BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Antoine Semenyo has reflected on the painful setbacks and rejection he endured during the early stages of his football journey, revealing that several top English clubs turned him away before he eventually rose to prominence for club and country.
The Ghana international admitted he was left frustrated and disappointed after unsuccessful trials with multiple Premier League academies during his teenage years, a period that nearly pushed him away from football completely.
Rejected By Top Premier League Academies
Speaking in an interview with FIFA, Semenyo disclosed that he attended trials with several major English clubs between the ages of 11 and 15.
The striker said he trained with academies including Arsenal FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea FC, Fulham FC, Millwall FC and Crystal Palace.
According to Semenyo, his final opportunity came with Crystal Palace when he was 15 years old, where he spent two months on trial before eventually being released.
“I went to quite a few academies between 11 and 15. Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Fulham, Millwall. Crystal Palace was my last trial at 15,” he said.
“I went there for two months, didn’t get in, and was very frustrated that I wasn’t signed by any of the teams.”
Semenyo Nearly Quit Football
The repeated disappointments reportedly had a major emotional impact on the forward, who admitted he temporarily stepped away from football after losing hope of making it professionally.
The striker revealed he decided to focus on school and normal teenage life after feeling overlooked by clubs despite years of trying to earn an opportunity.
“I just ended up giving it up and focusing on school. I gave up for the year and enjoyed just being normal,” he explained.
Climbing Through Lower-League Football
Despite abandoning the dream briefly, Semenyo eventually returned to football and gradually rebuilt his career through England’s lower divisions.
Before reaching the Premier League, the Ghanaian striker spent time on loan at Bath City FC, Newport County and Sunderland AFC as he worked to establish himself.
His breakthrough eventually arrived during the 2020/21 season when he featured in 50 matches and scored seven goals.
The following campaign proved even more productive, with Semenyo recording 20 goal contributions in 32 Championship appearances to attract widespread attention.
Rise To Black Stars And Premier League
His impressive performances earned him his first call-up to Ghana’s senior national team in May 2022 for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Semenyo later secured a move to AFC Bournemouth in 2023, where he quickly developed into one of the club’s most important attacking players.
During his time at Bournemouth, he scored 30 goals in 101 appearances before completing a high-profile transfer to Manchester City in January 2026.
Since joining Pep Guardiola’s side, the Ghanaian forward has continued his rapid rise, scoring six goals in 16 appearances and helping the club compete for major honours.
Inspiration For Young Footballers
Semenyo’s journey from academy rejection to Premier League success has increasingly become one of the most inspiring stories in Ghanaian football.
