Chelsea have decided not to move forward with a potential deal for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo after making an enquiry earlier on. The club have now ruled out activating the player’s release clause in January, effectively ending their short-lived interest.
The development comes amid growing Premier League attention around the Ghana international, with Manchester City currently seen as frontrunners, as reported by SoftFootball.
The enquiry from Chelsea was understood to be exploratory rather than a firm move, with the club checking the framework of the deal before deciding against progressing further.
While Semenyo remains highly rated internally, Chelsea are believed to be comfortable with their current attacking options and are unwilling to commit a large fee during the winter window.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, are bracing for interest from elsewhere, something manager Andoni Iraola has already addressed publicly, a situation covered by SoftFootball.
Chelsea’s stance, which was shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account, is influenced by confidence in their squad depth under Enzo Maresca. The club feel well stocked in attacking areas, with several players expected to play bigger roles in the second half of the season.
Fabrizio Romano posted:
Chelsea have decided not to proceed with Antoine Semenyo deal after making an enquiry earlier today. The club won’t activate this option in January and Semenyo is expected to join another PL club.
Rather than forcing a high-profile January signing, the focus is said to be on internal balance and addressing other areas if needed, particularly in defence.
With Chelsea stepping aside, Semenyo is expected to join another Premier League club this month. Manchester City are currently leading the race, with Liverpool and Manchester United also monitoring the situation closely.
The forward’s £65 million release clause is active for a limited period in early January, giving interested clubs a narrow window to act. Bournemouth are open to a sale within that timeframe, provided they have room to plan a replacement.
On the pitch, Semenyo has enjoyed a strong season, registering eight goals and three assists in 16 league appearances. His blend of pace, power, and work rate has made him one of the standout attackers outside the traditional top sides. Although Bournemouth would prefer to keep him, there is an acceptance that interest was always coming.
For Chelsea, the decision feels deliberate rather than reactive. The enquiry was made, the numbers assessed, and the call taken to walk away. For Semenyo, attention now shifts elsewhere, with a Premier League move still very much on the table.
