For many aspiring footballers, the path to the top is paved though going through top club academies.

But for Manchester City-bound Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, he took a less-travelled pathway.

His road to the top was more unconventional than you can imagine. It was one marked by rejection, resilience and a return to sport’s grassroots.

At just 15, Semenyo contemplated quitting football. An unsuccessful eight-week trial at Crystal Palace was the final blow. He had already faced a series of rejections from clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham and Millwall. While playing Sunday League for his local side, Kingfisher, he found the doors to professional football repeatedly shut.

"I went to quite a few clubs and was told the same thing—that I wasn't good enough. It's tough as a kid hearing that," Semenyo told Sky Sports in 2024.

 Semenyo continued: "Palace hit me hard the most because I was there for so long. My trial got extended and I thought I was going to be signed, and it didn't happen.

"I remember getting into the car crying and saying to my dad, 'Why does this keep happening?' I stopped playing football for a year after that.

" I didn't play any sport, I put on a lot of weight."

Semenyo, who is a devout Christian, told Sky Sports his early setbacks eventually shaped him into becoming a better footballer.

He attributed his rise to his faith, as well as family support, especially from his father Larry, who once played alongside Ghana and Leeds United legend Tony Yeboah back in his homeland.

"My dad used to get me kicking anything with both feet, whether it was paper, a can, anything," Semenyo recalled. "At the age of six, I was able to kick with both feet. Now it feels like second nature."

Semenyo stayed away from football for a year and even gained weight. Former Leeds manager Dave Hockday, however, saw something in him and convinced Semenyo to leave home and join his college program in Swindon.

Semenyo decided to pursue  a BTEC in sports science with football. Under Hockday, he thrived, and not just in football. He would drive him from Bristol to Swindon regularly. Soon enough, teams were coming for him.

Bristol, Birmingham and even Crystal Palace made bids for him. He chose to join Bristol,his hometown, and after a two-week trial, he signed for the club.

He played for the U23 set up before being loaned out to Bath. The experience was baptism by fire, featuring a cup hat-trick and a red card.

"When you're playing U23s it's all nice ticky-tacky, but going to men's football, the pitches aren't as great, you're playing against guys who are much more experienced and just want to kick you," he reflected. "I took quite a few hits. But Bath was a great experience."

After Bath, he enjoyed another loan spell in Newport, and featured in a famous FA Cup win over Leicester City.  Michael Flynn began deploying him as a winger, a position he has since made his own.

After returning to Bristol under Nigel Pearson, his career truly hit off. 

"I had a bit of a cagey start with him," Semenyo admitted with a smile. "He just said your best ability is running and shooting, so all you need to do is run and shoot! There was a lot of direct football and I blossomed off that." 

A stellar season with eight goals and 12 assists earned him a spot in Ghana's World Cup squad and a move to Bournemouth in January 2023.

At Bournemouth, he has slowly but gradually risen to prominence. In his first half-season at the club, he scored one goal in 11 appearances.

In the 23/24 season, he scored eight league goals, before netting 11 last season. This year, he has been on fire, scoring nine goals and registering three assists, which makes him the second top goalscorer in the league. 

It is form that has now earned him a move to Manchester City. He will be competing for starting roles on the flanks with Savinho, Jeremy Doku, as well as Ryan Cherki and Phil Foden.

Even with the deal yet to be finalised, Semenyo has insisted on still playing for Bournemouth in the meantime, which is a testament to his utter professionalism. As he once told Sky Sports, his determination is to keep proving his worth, having appreciated everyone who made him who he is now.

"I just want to prove I am good enough to be where I'm at, that's just my mindset from when I was young," he said, with nine goals and assists to his name this season. 

"I had to learn the hard way, not being able to come to nice training facilities and glamourous pitches and professional coaches,” he concluded.