Antoine Semenyo, forward for Bournemouth
Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has credited his football idols for playing a significant role in shaping his career.
According to the former Bristol City man, he drew inspiration from Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, studying their games to refine his own skills.
Now, Semenyo is reaping the rewards, having made a significant impact for Bournemouth in the Premier League this season, contributing to 10 league goals.
Since making the switch from Bristol City to Bournemouth in a €10.3 million deal in January 2023, Semenyo has been a driving force behind the Cherries’ resurgence.
His scintillating form this season has caught the attention of top-tier clubs, with several European heavyweights reportedly lining up a move for the in-demand 25-year-old Ghanaian forward.
Reflecting on his development, Semenyo acknowledged that a spell on the sidelines due to injury allowed him to study Premier League legends Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba, which helped elevate his game.
“One of the assistant coaches at Bristol at the time suggested I watch a lot of clips of my idols,” Semenyo told Premier League TV.
“He recommended [Breel] Embolo from Monaco, saying our play styles were very similar.”
“I watched him, Henry, and Drogba for inspiration, focusing on their movement, heading, and footwork. I was out for three to four months, so I used that time wisely to watch them and included them in mine” he added.
Semenyo has already scored seven goals in 23 Premier League appearances in the 2024/2025 season, just one shy of his best-ever league tally—eight goals, which he achieved in both the 2023/2024 season with Bournemouth and the 2021/2022 campaign with Bristol City.
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