Antoine Semenyo made a spectacular impact on his Manchester City debut, shining brightly as the new signing delivered a goal and an assist in a dominant 10-1 FA Cup third-round victory over Exeter City at the Etihad Stadium on January 10, 2026.
The 26-year-old Ghana international, who completed his high-profile £62.5m move from Bournemouth just days earlier (with potential add-ons taking it to around £64m), was handed an immediate first start by Pep Guardiola’s side—operating on the left wing in a strong lineup that also featured stars like Erling Haaland, Rodri, and Rayan Cherki.
Despite Guardiola serving a touchline ban, assistant Pep Lijnders oversaw a ruthless performance that saw City match their biggest modern-era FA Cup win (equaling a 10-1 thrashing of Huddersfield in 1987).
Semenyo’s magic moment came after the break. In the 49th minute, he whipped in a precise, teasing cross from the left flank that allowed Rico Lewis to volley home City’s fifth goal, extending the lead and showcasing the winger’s delivery and vision.
Just five minutes later, he capped his dream debut with a composed finish: racing onto a threaded through ball from Rayan Cherki, he calmly slotted the ball past Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth to make it 6-0.
This combination of a goal and an assist etched Semenyo into Manchester City history, as he became the first player to achieve both on his competitive debut for the club since Sergio Agüero’s memorable performance against Swansea in August 2011. The Etihad faithful showed their appreciation, giving him a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 64th minute.
His impressive display earned him the Man of the Match award, underlining why City moved swiftly to secure the versatile, two-footed forward—who had already notched 10 Premier League goals for Bournemouth this season, including a dramatic birthday winner against Tottenham in his farewell game.
Described as humble, hard-working, and a perfect fit for Guardiola’s evolving attacking style by assistant coach Lijnders, Semenyo’s debut performance provided a major confidence boost for City amid a challenging start to 2026, extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to 12 games while propelling them into the FA Cup fourth round in emphatic fashion.