Manchester City’s January business has often been about fine-tuning rather than fireworks, but the early signs suggest Antoine Semenyo could be one of those additions that subtly alters the rhythm of an already elite side.
A goalscoring debut, delivered less than a day after completing his move from Bournemouth, has only intensified the sense inside the Etihad that City may have found a missing piece rather than just another option.
Semenyo’s performance was incredible as his first start came in the FA Cup third round against Exeter, an assignment that might have appeared routine on paper but carried quiet significance.
Thrown straight into the starting XI, the 26-year-old was tasked with understanding City’s complex attacking patterns almost on the fly.
Instead of easing himself into the occasion, he announced his arrival with a goal and an all-action display that quickly won over both coaching staff and supporters.
The context matters. City are currently stretched in wide areas, with Savinho and Oscar Bobb sidelined through injury. That absence has sharpened the need for a forward who can operate across the front line without disrupting Guardiola’s finely balanced structure.
Semenyo, who began on the left against Exeter but is comfortable on either flank or through the middle, appears to tick those boxes.
Beyond the immediate impact, there is also the looming challenge of bigger games. With a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle United approaching, Semenyo’s performance on his debut has potentially accelerated his integration. For a player arriving for £62.5m, the expectation is not simply depth, but difference.
City’s approach to the Exeter tie was ruthless. A strong side was selected, the tempo was high from the opening exchanges, and the contest was effectively settled by half-time as City raced into a four-goal lead.
It was in that environment that Semenyo’s performance stood out, not just because of his goal, but because of how naturally he fitted into City’s pressing and positional play.
Pep Guardiola was absent from the touchline, serving a one-match ban after accumulating three yellow cards, leaving assistant Pep Lijnders to oversee post-match duties.
It was Lijnders who offered insight into why Semenyo has been on City’s radar for some time.
“I think a lot of good performances today, a lot of good individual performances. I think when the team plays like that it becomes easier for the individual, but Antoine is settling well,” Lijnders said in an interview after the match
“He is a humble guy, we have followed him for a long time, but he brings something to the front line, what we really want and what we need.
“He can attack quick, he wants to chase, he is a guy who doesn’t stop. I think you see today that he can adapt quite quickly to our style. It’s nice to have him with us.”
Those words point to a key theme in City’s recruitment: intensity without the ball. Semenyo’s willingness to press, chase lost causes and stretch defences vertically offers a slightly different profile to some of City’s more technical wide players.
Against Exeter, that manifested in constant movement, early runs in behind and a readiness to take responsibility in the final third.
The goal itself was a reward for that mindset. Rather than waiting for the perfect moment, Semenyo attacked the space aggressively, a trait that City have occasionally lacked when faced with deep, organised defences.
It is that directness which could become invaluable in matches where City dominate possession but struggle to turn control into clear chances.
Why City think he completes the puzzle
City’s dominance in the Exeter match was built on collective discipline as much as individual quality. Lijnders was keen to stress that point, highlighting the preparation and intensity that underpinned the performance.
“I think we know Exeter quite well, of course we had only two days to prepare, but their team, how we saw it, how we analysed them, when they can play, when they have space to play, they build really good [in] the game.
“I think from the first minute we showed with our high press, with the way we went after them, we really respected that, because the way the performance was on top to get the ball back quick, it was a good performance.
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“I think for the fans, for everybody around, the amount of goals, but especially when it was 4-0, 5-0 we kept pushing, and it was overall a really good day for Man City.”
For Semenyo, this environment is both demanding and liberating. City’s system requires forwards to be tactically intelligent, disciplined in their positioning and relentless in their work rate.
At the same time, it gives them a platform to express themselves, knowing the structure behind them will support risks taken in attack.
What excites City’s coaching staff is how Semenyo’s attributes complement existing options. His ability to carry the ball at speed adds a transitional threat, particularly useful against teams brave enough to push their defensive line high.
Meanwhile, his physicality allows City to vary their approach, offering a more direct route when intricate passing patterns are stifled.
