From non-league to the World Cup - the Semenyo story

Born in London to Ghanaian parents Larry and Dela, Semenyo and his brother Jai grew up in Greenwich with a ball almost permanently attached to their feet.

It should be little surprise Semenyo is now so adept with both his right and left feet given his father, who played alongside Tony Yeboah in Ghana's top flight, encouraged him from a young age to kick "paper, a can, anything" with both feet.

By the age of six it came naturally to Semenyo - and the dream of becoming a professional footballer was born.

His talent was spotted and encouraged by his parents, who sent him on trials at Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall before an eight-week trial at Crystal Palace aged 15.

None of those avenues proved successful.

At 16, Semenyo was deflated, disillusioned and ready to give up on football altogether.

Enter Hockaday.

Semenyo headed to a trial session at Bisham Abbey, later saying he only went to see where his fitness was compared to the other hopefuls. Little did he know that this particular trial would be the one to change the trajectory of his career.

"When I first came across him he was lost," Hockaday told BBC Sport.

"He looked lost. He talked lost. There was a vacancy in his eyes. There was no belief. He was looking for somebody to help find himself."

By chance, former Forest Green Rovers boss Hockaday was at Bisham Abbey that day and, upon arrival, was asked to help out with the trials Semenyo was taking part in.

He helped with some drills before observing a series of matches and was "surprised" when the teenager's name did not come up after.

"He didn't rip it up, didn't look anything particular, but he had moments and I believe that's what these trials are all about. I just saw a young lad who could deal with the football with both feet - inside, outside - without even thinking about it," Hockaday said.

"He wasn't in the greatest physical shape, but he moved well. He had a good pair of shoulders and he looked like physically he was going to become a specimen in the right environment."

Hockaday thought that was the last he had seen of Semenyo. But something had not quite sat right.

"I am good at spotting talent," he said. "I've described Antoine to his family as an itch that I just couldn't get rid of."

The itch needed to be scratched. Hockaday doesn't recall how, but in the weeks following he tracked down Semenyo's parents, explained to them who he was and said he'd like to help their son.

"We met up and somehow, in some way, they trusted their son into my hands. And that's when our relationship started."

Semenyo might have signed for a Championship club but, still only 18 years old, he was immediately sent out on loan to non-league side Bath City.

Jerry Gill, their coach at the time, believes that step into men's football helped Semenyo become the physical player he is today.

"When he was playing with players of his own age he relied on the fact he would just be stronger than them - but when he came up against men he had to learn how to protect with his arm, shield the ball, spin and slide," said Gill.

Semenyo started as a striker but Gill moved him out wide and was impressed with his response to feedback.

"He was a sponge," said Gill. "He was accepted with the team - and that's not easy for a young lad coming on loan. His attitude had to be right and it was. He had that big smile on his face that you still see now."

Next came a loan move to League Two Newport County, for whom he scored three goals in 21 games across the first half of the 2018-19 season.

A couple of impressive FA Cup performances saw him heavily linked to Premier League side Chelsea - and prompted Bristol City to recall him.

Would this be Semenyo's moment to shine at a higher level? Not quite.

He was handed his first start by the play-off chasing Robins in March 2019 but was hooked before the hour mark with his team 1-0 down at home to Leeds.

A month later, with City trailing top-six rivals Derby, he was thrown on as a 33rd-minute substitute in search of an equaliser. They lost 2-0 - and Semenyo was sent off.

The false starts would continue - a relatively disappointing loan spell in League One with Sunderland the following season, managers coming and going at Ashton Gate and Semenyo failing to establish himself in the team.

It was the arrival of Nigel Pearson that seemed to change things.

Partly through choice and partly through necessity, with a wage bill badly in need of trimming, Pearson turned to youth. Semenyo, along with now Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, was front and central.

As one of the few experienced pros remaining at the club, ex-Bradford City Nahki Wells would become a mentor to Semenyo during that time and recalls "a young player who was raw but full of talent".

"I remember being that guy he came and had chats with. I was almost like a big brother," Wells told BBC Sport.

"There's nothing he didn't have. He had the pace, the ability and a skill level that was underappreciated at the time.

"It was very hard to stop that. It was like a puzzle and he was just putting his pieces together to become this article that he is today."

Something had clicked. In 2021-22 - eight goals and 12 assists. In 2022-23 - eight goals and two assists.

Premier League clubs came sniffing, with Southampton and Crystal Palace - the club that had rejected him six years prior - among those interested.

Semenyo got his Premier League move when he signed for Bournemouth in January 2023 for £10m on a four-and-a-half-year contract.

His exploits on the south coast are well documented as he became their standout star - 32 goals and 13 assists in 110 appearances across all competitions.

He was the perfect fit for Andoni Iraola's system of high-energy, counter-pressing football.

His 10 goals in the first half of the 2025-26 season were enough to attract the attention of one of the greatest managers in the game's history - Pep Guardiola.

Semenyo's £65m move to Manchester City in January marks the peak of his journey up the football leagues. A move that even Hockaday did not see coming.

And so we arrive at this summer, with Semenyo having scored 11 goals and recorded three assists for City before heading to the World Cup with Ghana.

He ended the domestic season as an FA Cup hero, scoring the winning goal against Chelsea in the final at Wembley.

"When I see this young lad and I see what he's created, where he's got to and where he's going to now it's a bit mind-blowing for me," said Hockaday, who describes Semenyo as still "humble" and "one of the good guys" despite his meteoric rise.

"After rejections I would say to Antoine don't prove them wrong, prove you right, prove me right. All he was doing was proving himself right.

"I kept in touch with him and usually at the end of every season we'll meet up for a few hours and have a chat and discuss things on and off the field. If there's anything he's not sure about he knows he can call me and he does.

"I just feel pride being able to say that I've been part of his journey."