Sports

I was rejected by Chelsea and Arsenal – Antoine Semenyo

Anthonio Semenyo

Ghanaian footballer Antoine Semenyo, who plays for Bournemouth, has shared that he came close to abandoning his dreams after facing rejection from top clubs Chelsea and Arsenal early in his career.

Semenyo’s path to the Premier League was untraditional, as he spent several years honing his skills in the lower divisions of English football before finally reaching the top tier at age 24.

Antoine Semenyo’s professional journey began at Bristol City, but he faced a winding path to success. Initially, he was sent on loan to Bath City, a sixth-tier team, to gain valuable experience. He then had another loan spell at Newport County, a fourth-tier club, where he continued to hone his skills. In 2020, he joined Championship side Sunderland on loan for his third successive temporary stint away from Bristol City. Finally, after years of perseverance, Semenyo got his chance to shine with his parent club, Bristol City.

His hard work and dedication paid off when Bournemouth, a Premier League team, took notice and signed him for a significant £10 million in January 2023. This move marked a dream come true for Semenyo, as he finally reached the top tier of English football. Throughout his journey, Semenyo demonstrated resilience and determination, overcoming obstacles to achieve his goal of playing in the Premier League.

Since joining Bournemouth, Antoine Semenyo has become an integral part of the team under Andoni Iraola’s management, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 31 Premier League appearances this season. Reflecting on his career journey, Semenyo revealed that he faced rejection from top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, and Millwall during his early years. He admitted that these setbacks almost led him to quit football but emphasized that those experiences have ultimately made him more resilient and mentally stronger.

“I think I went to Millwall four times, went to Tottenham, went to Arsenal, went to Chelsea, I went to so many clubs and I just got the same result: never making it. I remember Palace being the last place being rejected,” Semenyo told Supersport.

“Being so young I couldn’t really cope with the emotions of rejection I was like, I felt like I need to take a break, go back to friends, go back to school just focus and recuperate, give myself a year to calm myself down cause I felt like the rejection was so much.”

“That was obviously a tough part of my life but yeah I felt like it built character and the mentality I have now, so I’m grateful.”