The 26-year-old winger has undergone a rollercoaster ride to the top of club football, facing rejection at trials throughout his teenage years before earning a professional contract with Bristol City in 2018.
A move to Bournemouth in 2023 saw him take the next step, with his form eventually attracting the attention of City before his move last January.
And now, he’s a key cog in Enzo Maresca’s side who have started the 2026/27 season in excellent form, winning each of our first eight games across the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Semenyo says he’ll continue to make daily notes on his thoughts and plans as he sets ever loftier ambitions.
“I did it as a kid a lot. I wrote a lot of random stuff and as I’ve got older I’ve focused on what I’ve done during the day,” he began in an interview with UEFA ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
“A lot of the time I was overthinking so it became a habit. I manifest what I want for the season, for the years ahead and it’s worked out well so far.
“I don’t really remember why I started. My mum got me a big book that was meant to be for homework but it became for random stuff. Some of the things in there can be random, just like notes but a lot of it is what I want to achieve.
“Every goal that I’ve written down so far has manifested. When anything pops up, I write it down and come back to it to see it at a later stage.”
With 13 goals in 35 appearances in a City shirt, including the winner in last season’s FA Cup final, Semenyo has enjoyed a stellar 2026.
And the No.42 says he continues to develop and learn more about himself all the time at City.
“From day one, I had to understand myself as a player,” he said.
“It’s understanding the pace of the game, when to go slow, when to speed it up, when to dribble. Pep drilled that into me a lot and it’s helped me.
“It’s definitely helped me because I feel like I understand the game really well.
“That’s where the journaling comes in because I’ve written all this stuff down. Then I can go back to it and tick it off.
“I’m playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. We’re playing our best football and I’m with star players and I’m still learning about myself every day.”
In fact, Semenyo sees his struggles in the early part of his career as something that’s helped him become the man he is today.
Professional sport is all about how you recover from setbacks and Semenyo says he knows now how to respond to any defeat or tough moment.
“It’s made me, ultimately, resilient. I’m strong minded and have strong character. Anything in the way is just a blur,” he started.
“I’m always going to be tunnel visioned on what my goal is. If I want something, I’m going to get it eventually.
“I had a lot of phases at Newport, Bristol, Sunderland where I wasn’t playing so well and I was out of the team.
“You need to be strong minded to get through those moments. If you’re not strong minded, you’ll fall.”
City v Paris Saint-Germain: Don’t miss out on mouthwatering UCL clash
Don’t miss out on our mouthwatering UEFA Champions League home opener against Paris Saint-Germain with tickets still available ahead of Wednesday’s game.
They are on sale to all Season Ticket Members and existing Premium, Matchday and Junior Members who have previously purchased a match ticket at the Etihad Stadium.
It’s up to four tickets per Member – with three additional for Members on the UEFA Cup Scheme.
It should be quite the game as the 2023 winners take on Luis Enrique’s holders, the French team having triumphed in both 2025 and 2026 by seeing off Inter Milan and Arsenal.
It’s an 20:00 (UK) kick-off on Wednesday as we look to follow up on our away victory over FC Porto on Matchnight One with another success under the lights of the Etihad Stadium.
It’s been quite the start for the Blues, with eight wins in eight games including six successes in six top-flight tussles, Sunday’s 3-0 triumph over Liverpool at Anfield the latest success for Enzo Maresca’s men.
You can also enjoy the exciting UCL clash with a hospitality experience.
There’s availability in City Hall, Zadie’s and Legends with prices starting from £195.
