Manchester City and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo has revealed he nearly gave up football completely before eventually rising to become one of the Black Stars’ key players ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in an interview with FIFA, the 26-year-old reflected on the difficult period during his teenage years when he failed to secure academy opportunities with several English clubs.
Semenyo disclosed that he underwent trials at top sides including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Fulham, Millwall and Crystal Palace but was repeatedly unsuccessful.
“I went to quite a few academies between 11 and 15,” Semenyo said.
“Crystal Palace was my last trial at 15. I went there for two months, didn’t get in, and was very frustrated.”
The Ghana international admitted the disappointment affected him deeply, leading him to temporarily walk away from football altogether.
“I gave up for the year, enjoyed just being normal,” he added.
However, his career took a dramatic turn after former Leeds United coach Dave Hockaday encouraged him to return to football while studying at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.
That opportunity eventually opened the door for Semenyo to join Bristol City in 2017, where he began rebuilding his football career.
Loan spells at Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland played a major role in his development, helping him mature into one of the Premier League’s most dangerous attacking players.
His rapid rise later earned him a move to AFC Bournemouth before Manchester City secured his signature earlier this year in a deal reportedly worth more than £60 million.
Semenyo is now preparing for his second FIFA World Cup appearance with Ghana after making his tournament debut at Qatar 2022, completing a remarkable journey from rejected academy prospect to one of Ghana’s biggest football stars.
