Antoine Semenyo: From London rejection to Ghana's World Cup star
After nearly quitting football as a teenager due to London club rejections, Antoine Semenyo has emerged as a star for Ghana and Manchester City.
La joie d'Antoine Semenyo lors du premier match du Ghana, remporté dans les dernières secondes face au Panama (1-0), le 18 juin. (L. Ramirez/Susa/Icon sport) Antoine Semenyo avec Bristol, lors de la saison 2020/2021. (Pa Images/Icon sport)
Born in Chelsea, London, Antoine Semenyo endured a difficult path to professional success. His career nearly ended at 15 after a series of failed trials at Arsenal, Tottenham, Millwall, and Crystal Palace. Exhausted by the rejection, he stepped away from football for a year to focus on basketball.
A turning point came when his uncle convinced him to train with former striker David Hockaday. Hockaday recognized Semenyo's resilience, later describing him as "a bird that had to be freed." Semenyo joined the Bristol academy, working his way up through loan spells in lower divisions before finally reaching the Premier League at age 23.
Now, Semenyo stands as the offensive centerpiece for the Ghana national team. His move to Manchester City in January made him the most expensive Ghanaian player in history. He has already been named Premier League Player of the Month and scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final against Chelsea.
The upcoming match against England at the World Cup carries deep personal significance. Inspired by his father’s stories of Ghanaian football, Semenyo chose to represent the Black Stars in 2022, effectively closing the door on the possibility of playing for his birth nation.