Antoine Semenyo is a dynamic and physically powerful forward for AFC Bournemouth, combining raw athleticism with tactical intelligence. Versatile across the front line, he influences games through explosive runs, smart off-the-ball movement, and effective defensive work — though there is still room for improvement in his decision-making and consistency.
Physical Attributes
Antoine Semenyo possesses an imposing athletic foundation, standing at 185 cm with significant muscle mass across both his upper and lower body. This strong build gives him outstanding balance and allows him to shield and protect the ball effectively under pressure.
He is exceptionally fast over long distances, making him a major threat during both offensive and defensive transitions, while his short-distance acceleration is equally impressive. Despite his strength, Semenyo remains agile and light-footed, showing the ability to change direction easily and efficiently to beat defenders.
Physically, he dominates in ground duels and regularly wins aerial challenges. Rounding out his physical profile, Semenyo demonstrates tremendous stamina and an exceptional work rate, sustaining high-intensity effort for the full 90 minutes.
In Possession
Semenyo is a highly versatile, two-footed attacker capable of performing effectively across all three forward positions — a valuable trait in modern football. While his preferred foot is the right, his ability to use both feet prevents defenders from forcing him onto a weaker side and provides more angles for passing and shooting.
Technically, he is an excellent ball controller and carrier. His first touch is sharp, allowing him to settle the ball quickly and prepare for his next action. In tight areas, Semenyo manipulates the ball skillfully, using his body and strength to shield it and retain possession under pressure. This combination of physical power and close control makes him extremely difficult to dispossess.
Style of Play
Although he is a capable dribbler — often using body feints and step-overs to unbalance defenders or create space before shooting — dribbling is not his first option.
1. Movement and Space Exploitation
Semenyo often favors sharp passing exchanges and quick “pass-and-go” combinations, particularly in central areas, to penetrate defensive lines. His main objective is to attack the space behind defenders, using his explosive pace to exploit gaps created by the initial pass. This highlights both his strong spatial awareness and excellent sense of timing.
2. Chance Creation
Semenyo frequently creates scoring opportunities from wide areas by exploiting space behind the defensive line. When receiving the ball on the flank, he shows patience and vision — often holding onto the ball until the perfect moment to play a penetrating through pass into a teammate’s run. His ability to identify and execute early passes that bypass the defense adds a valuable creative dimension to his game.
Intelligent Positioning
What stands out most about Semenyo is his intelligent positioning behind defenders. He consistently finds the “blindside” — a high-level trait that allows him to escape direct marking and receive the ball freely, whether playing as a striker, inside forward, or winger. His excellent spatial awareness and movement make him a constant, unpredictable threat across the final third.
Moreover, by positioning himself on the far shoulder of the last defender, Semenyo creates separation while remaining ready to make immediate runs in behind.
He frequently executes well-timed movements targeting the fullback’s blindside, using his pace to get in behind and create danger near the box.
Another subtle but effective aspect of his positioning is how he occasionally stays in an offside position when Bournemouth are in possession. By delaying his run and timing his movement as the ball moves up the pitch, he manages to stay in front of his marker while still arriving in an onside position — a clever tactic that helps him gain a step on defenders and attack the space with momentum.
Area for Concern
Despite his pace and power, Semenyo’s final decision-making occasionally lets him down. He sometimes holds onto the ball too long, delaying the pass or shot and allowing defenders to recover. At times, he overcomplicates situations in the final third, opting for a difficult option instead of a simpler, more effective one.
Improving the speed and sharpness of his decisions under pressure would significantly enhance his overall attacking impact.
Out of Possession
Semenyo’s work without the ball is impressive and vital to Bournemouth’s system. His defensive contribution reflects both his athletic capacity and his understanding of collective structure — key traits in Andoni Iraola’s high-intensity approach.
Pressing Intensity
He presses with aggression and intelligence, actively hunting down the ball carrier and setting the tone for the team’s defensive effort. Crucially, his defensive work goes beyond raw effort — he positions himself smartly to block passing lanes and force play toward less dangerous areas.
Tracking Back
Semenyo regularly tracks deep into his own half to support defensively, cover space, and relieve pressure on his fullback. His willingness to recover long distances ensures Bournemouth can maintain compactness defensively.
Blindside Pressing
His pressing technique is intelligent and deliberate. He often approaches opponents from their blindside to increase his chances of winning the ball or intercepting passes, making him particularly effective in high-pressing systems.
Final Thoughts
Antoine Semenyo is a modern forward perfectly suited to high-intensity, transition-based football. His rare blend of elite physicality, positional versatility, and intelligent off-ball movement makes him an unpredictable threat across the attacking line.
While he still needs to refine his consistency and decision-making speed in the final third, his tireless work rate, tactical awareness, and ability to exploit space make him an invaluable player for Bournemouth — and one with clear potential for continued growth at the top level.