Football’s capacity for fairytale endings was on full display at the Vitality Stadium as Antoine Semenyo enjoyed a dream farewell to Bournemouth, scoring a dramatic late winner against Tottenham that may prove to be his final act for the club.
With a move to Manchester City imminent, Semenyo delivered a moment supporters will cherish long after his departure. His goal, struck in the closing minutes, ended Bournemouth’s 11-match wait for a Premier League victory and came on his 26th birthday, adding another layer of romance to an already unforgettable night.
It was the forward’s 10th league goal of the season and arguably his most meaningful. In a campaign where Bournemouth have often struggled for cutting edge, Semenyo has been their talisman, repeatedly stepping up when it mattered most. Against Spurs, he did so one final time, sparking scenes of jubilation inside the stadium.
As the clock ticked down, Semenyo was substituted, allowing him to soak in the applause from all four stands. He acknowledged the crowd in return, fully aware that this was likely his last bow in a Bournemouth shirt.
“If that is to be his last involvement for Bournemouth, there is no better way for it to go,” team-mate Marcus Tavernier said afterwards. “That was the type of stuff you write in movies and no man deserves it more than him.”
Manager Andoni Iraola stopped short of formally announcing the transfer but effectively confirmed Semenyo’s exit, praising his professionalism amid intense speculation. “Sometimes football gives you these things,” Iraola said. “He has given everything and been committed until the end. It is good football gives him back this moment.”
Semenyo’s importance to Bournemouth this season cannot be overstated. He has scored 41% of the club’s Premier League goals and leads the squad for shots, with 49 attempts, 27 of them on target. More than just numbers, he has provided power, pace and leadership, often carrying the attacking burden almost single-handedly.
“He will be a big miss with his quality, but also the person he is in the changing room,” Tavernier added. “We definitely have to find something else going forward.”
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy echoed those sentiments, praising Semenyo’s mentality. “He has shown great mental strength,” Murphy said on Match of the Day. “He’s played every game, not made a fuss, and to score a winning goal on his last appearance – what a way to go.”
While Semenyo’s departure leaves a sizeable hole, Bournemouth have reasons for optimism. Nineteen-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi continued his remarkable breakthrough season by scoring against Spurs, taking his tally to seven league goals. That makes him the highest-scoring teenager across Europe’s top five leagues.
Kroupi is not a direct replacement, operating more centrally than the versatile Semenyo, but his efficiency in front of goal has excited staff and supporters alike. He has scored just three fewer goals than Semenyo despite playing barely a third of the minutes.
Tavernier recently described him as a “generational talent”, while the club’s recruitment team will hope he can soften the blow of losing their star forward.
Bournemouth are also active in the transfer market. Iraola admitted the squad is “very thin on numbers” and confirmed work is ongoing to bring reinforcements in. Players such as Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu and Stoke winger Sorba Thomas have been linked, while Stuttgart’s Jamie Leweling is also reportedly on the club’s radar.
Replacing Semenyo will not be easy, but Bournemouth have shown resilience in the transfer market before. High-profile sales in recent seasons have not derailed progress, and once again the club will look to rebuild.
If this was indeed Semenyo’s final moment in a Bournemouth shirt, it was one worthy of the scriptwriters – a perfect ending to a chapter that will be fondly remembered on the south coast.
