Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo says he is grateful to have surpassed the long-standing Premier League goalscoring record of his boyhood idol Tony Yeboah.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a prolific campaign in England’s top flight, scoring 17 league goals to become the Ghanaian player with the most goals in a single Premier League season.

Semenyo’s achievement came after a memorable 2026 campaign in which he also played every minute of Ghana’s World Cup tournament.

The Black Stars reached the Round of 32 at the expanded World Cup, with their group-stage campaign including a goalless draw against England.

For Semenyo, however, his record-breaking season carries a deeper meaning because of the players who inspired him while growing up.

“Tony Yeboah is a player I always looked up to. Asamoah Gyan too, (former Ivory Coast star) Didier Drogba, the names are endless,” he told CNN.

The forward said watching African players excel in the Premier League gave him the ambition to one day follow in their footsteps.

“When they were playing in the Premier League, scoring every week, you wanted to do the same thing as a young kid. To think I’m doing it now, I’m grateful to God.”

Semenyo’s 17-goal league campaign saw him move beyond Yeboah’s previous benchmark and underline his growing importance for both club and country.

The Ghana international said he now hopes his own performances can inspire the next generation in the same way Yeboah, Asamoah Gyan and Drogba inspired him.

“It’s a dream of mine to have kids looking up to me, following in my footsteps. It gives me more motivation to keep going,” he added.

Semenyo’s rise marks another significant chapter in Ghana’s long association with the Premier League, following in the footsteps of Yeboah, Gyan and other influential Black Stars players who made their mark in England.

The 26-year-old featured in Manchester City’s Community Shield loss to Arsenal on Sunday. Despite the disappointing loss, Semenyo is expected to play a key role under new manager Enzo Maresca as the new Premier League season gets underway this weekend.