Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, a Ghana international, is reportedly available for a transfer fee of £65 million, a sum stipulated in a release clause within his current contract. This clause can be activated by interested clubs during the first two weeks of the upcoming January transfer window, allowing the Cherries sufficient time to secure a replacement for their key player.

The 25-year-old had recently committed his future to Vitality Stadium, signing a new five-year deal on July 1, which extends his stay until 2030. This extension was initially perceived as a move to deter suitors or ensure a significant transfer fee. However, reports from BBC Sport and David Ornstein of The Athletic have revealed the existence of this time-sensitive release clause, which is £5 million less than his alleged £70 million price tag last summer.

Semenyo has been a subject of keen interest from several top Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who reportedly made inquiries during the previous summer transfer window. Despite Bournemouth offloading key defensive players such as Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, and Dango Ouattara for substantial fees, and failing to make Kepa Arrizabalaga's loan move permanent, retaining Semenyo has proven vital for the club's performance this season.

His impressive form under manager Andoni Iraola has been instrumental in Bournemouth's campaign, with Semenyo scoring six goals and providing three assists in just 11 Premier League appearances this season. Last season, he achieved a career-high, netting 11 league goals and 13 across all competitions.

Semenyo's journey in professional football has seen him overcome early setbacks. After being rejected by prominent London academies including Arsenal, Tottenham, and Millwall, he developed his skills at SGS College in Bristol under the tutelage of former Leeds manager Dave Hockaday. He joined Bristol City in 2017, progressing through loan spells at Bath, Newport, and Sunderland before establishing himself in the Robins' first team during the 2020-21 season. His move to Bournemouth in January 2023 for £10 million marked a significant step, and he has consistently improved since, contributing to Bournemouth's ninth-place finish last season.

While Bournemouth ideally prefer to keep their star winger, the activation of the release clause in January could see him depart. Should Semenyo remain with the club past the winter window, reports suggest the release clause might become active again at an even lower fee, potentially offering another opportunity for interested clubs in the future.