Antoine Semenyo a doubt for West Ham game, Bournemouth boss Iraola ‘not worried’ about winger’s future
Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo is an injury doubt for Saturday’s match against West Ham United.
Ghana had confirmed on Monday that the 25-year-old had left the national team camp and returned to Bournemouth due to an issue in his left ankle, which he aggravated during the 2-0 defeat by Japan on Friday.
“(Semenyo) was already dealing with an ankle injury (before the international break),” head coach Andoni Iraola said on Friday in his pre-match press conference. “I cannot tell you if he’s going to play tomorrow or not. We will have to see. ”
USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams is available for the game, however, after going through concussion protocol following a collision in November’s Aston Villa game. The 26-year-old withdrew from the month’s internationals the following day.
“(Adams and Adam Smith) have both been in the concussion protocol,” Iraola added. “They are available for the game but it’s true that in these two weeks, they have had to go through the process of concussion, which is quite meticulous and has definitely affected the training for both.”
The Athletic revealed on Monday that Bournemouth reluctantly accept they may be powerless to prevent Semenyo from leaving the club as soon as January, even though their desire is to retain him until the end of this season. The forward, who has registered six goals and three assists in the league this term, has a release clause for some of the winter window set at £65million.
“We are in November, Antoine (Semenyo) is our player, he will continue to be our player. In January, you can ask me about the market,” Iraola said, via the BBC. “But right now, I am not worried about the next market. I am not worried about the situation. In January, we will talk about whatever happened, the players we need.”
Bournemouth, who are ninth in the Premier League and one point off the top four, host 18th-place West Ham on Saturday.
Nov 22, 2025
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