Why Antoine Semenyo Picked the No. 42 Shirt at Manchester City — And the Yaya Touré Legacy He’s Stepping Into

When Antoine Semenyo stepped onto the Etihad pitch as a Manchester City player, the number on his back made fans do a double-take. Not the No. 9 of a marquee striker. Not the No. 7 of a winger. No. 42 — the same digits Yaya Touré wore for eight trophy-laden seasons.

It was a deliberate, personal call. And for shirt collectors and casual fans alike, it instantly turned the 2025/26 home shirt with SEMENYO 42 on the back into one of the season’s most-talked-about prints.

Why No. 42? The Bristol City Connection

Semenyo did not pluck the number from a hat. The No. 42 was his very first squad number as a senior professional, given to him at Bristol City when he made his debut in May 2018 as an 18-year-old. It is, in his own words, the number that started everything.

Carrying that digit through a £62.5 million move from Bournemouth to one of the world’s biggest clubs is a quiet nod to where he came from — and a sentimental anchor in a season that has otherwise been a whirlwind.

The Yaya Touré Shadow

At Manchester City, however, no squad number exists in a vacuum. The No. 42 is, undeniably, Yaya Touré’s number. The Ivorian midfielder wore it from 2010 to 2018, lifting three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and three League Cups along the way. He is, statistically, the most decorated player to ever wear the digits at City.

Since Touré’s departure in 2018, the No. 42 has barely been used at first-team level — almost as if the club were quietly leaving it dormant. Handing it back to a £62.5m signing tells you everything about the faith Pep Guardiola’s recruitment team has in Semenyo.

What the Shirt Looks Like

The 2025/26 Manchester City home shirt — the canvas for Semenyo’s No. 42 — is one of Puma’s strongest efforts in recent years. Key details:

• Sky blue base with a returning diagonal sash (the first time the sash has appeared on a home shirt)
• Black logos and badges, with white accents
• White shorts, sky-blue socks for the full home kit
• Retailing at £130 from Puma direct

The clean black-on-blue colourway means the official Premier League print of SEMENYO 42 stands out cleanly across the shoulders — exactly the kind of contrast collectors look for.

Should You Buy the Print?

For fans weighing up whether to add Semenyo’s name to a shirt, three things make this print a smart pick:

1. Long-term contract. Semenyo signed a deal running until 2031, so the shirt won’t date in 12 months.
2. Number heritage. No. 42 prints will always carry the Touré aura — it’s a number with a story, not just a digit.
3. Limited overlap. Few other Premier League stars wear 42, so the print feels distinctive in a way that, say, a No. 7 or 10 never will.

Browse our Manchester City jersey range to pair the print with the right shirt, or check the training kit options if you prefer the matchday warm-up look. For broader season coverage, see our news hub and the running World Cup 2026 kit tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions

What number does Antoine Semenyo wear at Manchester City?

Antoine Semenyo wears the No. 42 shirt at Manchester City, the same number he wore on his senior debut at Bristol City in 2018.

Who wore No. 42 at Manchester City before Semenyo?

The most famous previous wearer was Yaya Touré, who wore the number from 2010 to 2018 and won three Premier League titles in it.

How much did Manchester City pay for Semenyo?

Manchester City signed Semenyo from Bournemouth in January 2026 for a reported fee of around £62.5 million, on a contract until 2031.

How much does the 2025/26 Manchester City home shirt cost?

The Puma Manchester City 25/26 home shirt retails at £130 from official channels, with replica versions available widely from £80 upwards.