Knee Injury Rules Antoine Semenyo Out for Eight Weeks, Manchester 2026

Key Points

• Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City has been sidelined for between eight weeks because of his knee injury.
• The injury was sustained during the weekend match between City and Ipswich Town where the former played as a substitute in their 3-2 win.
• According to manager Enzo Maresca, the diagnosis was done following the scanning that was carried out on Monday.
• According to him, the club feared at first that Semenyo would sustain a much worse injury, but according to the scanning results, the situation is not so bad.
• Semenyo will be back in action by December. According to Maresca, Semenyo is the only player who is in for an extended period of absence, whereas others are just minor injuries.
• This is another blow for City as far as their attacking lineup is concerned.

Manchester Sports (Manchester Mirror) October 19, 2026 — Antoine Semenyo has been ruled out for approximately eight weeks after suffering a knee injury during Manchester City’s 3–2 Premier League victory over Ipswich Town, manager Enzo Maresca confirmed on Monday.

How Long Will Antoine Semenyo Be Out?

Semenyo is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks, with Maresca indicating that the winger could return around December. As reported by the Associated Press, the City manager said the injury was initially concerning but that scans had provided a more encouraging diagnosis.

“In the first moment, we expected an even worse injury so we were more worried,”

Maresca said, according to the Associated Press.

“But after yesterday’s scan, we feel much better because it’s not as big as expected. It could be eight weeks.”

The manager added that Semenyo’s recovery was now the priority. “So the most important thing for him is to recover and when he is back, probably in December, we have a new player in terms of energy,” Maresca said.

When Did Semenyo Suffer the Injury?

The injury happened during City’s 3–2 win against Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Semenyo came on as a second-half substitute, with ESPN reporting that he entered the match in the 76th minute.

Metro reported that Semenyo was replaced in the 77th minute because of a suspected knee problem. RotoWire, citing Sam Lee, reported that the winger was seen limping as he left the pitch at full time, although he did not leave for the tunnel as quickly as Erling Haaland, who also appeared to have a foot knock.

The Ghana Football Association-affiliated newspaper Ghanaian Times described Semenyo as appearing to sustain the knee problem during City’s hard-fought victory over Ipswich. It noted that his pace, physical strength and attacking versatility have made him one of Ghana’s most dangerous forwards.

What Did Enzo Maresca Say About the Injury?

Maresca said Semenyo was the only City player whose condition required a longer absence. As reported by Yahoo Sport, he said:

“The only one that will be out for probably eight weeks is Antoine.”

He also addressed concerns about other players who picked up knocks in the Ipswich match. According to Metro, Maresca said:

“The rest are more or less all okay, the only one that will be out for probably eight weeks is Antoine.”

ESPN reported that Maresca said the scan had shown the injury was “not as bad as we expected.” The manager repeated that the expected absence was eight weeks and stressed that recovery was the immediate focus.

Is the Injury Serious?

The injury is serious enough to keep Semenyo out for roughly two months, but Maresca’s comments suggest City avoided the worst-case scenario. The Athletic reported that the club had initially feared a more severe injury, but that the scan brought relief because the problem was less serious than anticipated.

According to 101 Great Goals, Maresca described the issue as a “collateral” lower-leg injury, while also confirming the knee problem and the eight-week timeframe. The differing phrasing in reports underlines that City have not publicly provided a precise medical diagnosis beyond a knee injury and an expected recovery period.

The Sun reported that Maresca confirmed a knee injury would keep Semenyo out for “probably eight weeks.” The report framed the absence as a significant setback for the Premier League leaders.

Which Matches Will Semenyo Miss?

Semenyo’s expected absence covers a busy period for Manchester City across the Premier League and Champions League. Sports Mole listed him as out for City’s Champions League fixture against AEK Athens and said a return date remained unknown at the time of its report.

Yahoo Sport reported that, before the full extent of the injury was confirmed, a potential return date had been listed as City’s away match against Aston Villa on October 24. That date is now unrealistic given Maresca’s eight-week prognosis.

The injury also means Semenyo is likely to miss City’s fixture against Arsenal, according to Yahoo Sport’s report on the wider injury situation. His absence will extend through November and, based on Maresca’s December estimate, potentially into the early part of that month.

How Does the Injury Affect Ghana?

The injury is also a concern for Ghana ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. Ghanaian Times reported that the setback had created concern for Ghana’s AFCON preparations, describing Semenyo as a key attacking option for the national team.

The report said Semenyo had already withdrawn from Ghana’s recent international camp because of swelling in his leg. It added that he returned to face Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Ipswich before being introduced as a substitute for Jeremy Doku against Ipswich.

Ghana’s coaching staff will now await further updates from Manchester City as they assess his availability for international duty. No confirmation was given in the available reports about whether the eight-week club recovery period would affect his AFCON participation.

What Is the Wider Manchester City Injury Picture?

Semenyo’s injury comes amid other fitness concerns at Manchester City. Metro reported that Erling Haaland and Nico O’Reilly were also among the players assessed after the win over Ipswich, while Mateo Kovacic was mentioned in the wider injury discussion.

However, Maresca indicated that the situation was less serious for the rest of the squad. The Athletic reported that Haaland’s issue appeared to be less severe and that he was expected to be available for City’s match against AEK.

RotoWire reported that Haaland was seen limping after the Ipswich match because of a foot knock, while Semenyo’s knee issue was the more significant concern. Maresca’s subsequent update confirmed that distinction.

Background of the Development

Semenyo joined Manchester City ahead of the 2026–27 season and had made a strong start to his City career. Yahoo Sport reported that he had already been involved in matches against Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Ipswich, despite recently withdrawing from Ghana’s international camp because of leg swelling.

His injury occurred in City’s seventh consecutive Premier League win at the start of the season, according to Yahoo Sport. City beat Ipswich 3–2 at the Etihad Stadium, with Semenyo introduced from the bench late in the game before the knee problem emerged.

Maresca’s assessment came the day after the match, when City conducted further medical checks. The manager’s comments on Monday confirmed that the scan had clarified the extent of the injury and allowed the club to set an expected recovery period.

Prediction: What This Means for Manchester City and Ghana

For Manchester City, Semenyo’s absence is likely to reduce Enzo Maresca’s attacking rotation options for the next two months. City will need to manage their wide-forward workload across the Premier League, Champions League and domestic cup competitions, particularly with Haaland and other players recently carrying knocks.

For fantasy football managers and City supporters, the immediate impact is that Semenyo should be treated as unavailable until December. His absence removes a direct attacking option from selection consideration and may increase opportunities for other wide players, including Jeremy Doku, who replaced Semenyo against Ipswich.

For Ghana, the development creates uncertainty ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. If Semenyo’s recovery follows the eight-week timeline, his availability will depend on his fitness and match sharpness when he returns, making close monitoring of Manchester City’s updates important for Ghana’s coaching staff and supporters.