If Antoine Semenyo’s proposed move to Manchester City is completed, the Ghana forward will take on more than just a new club, he is expected to wear the number 42 shirt once made famous by Ivorian great Yaya Touré.

The number carries deep significance at the Etihad Stadium. Touré, one of Africa’s most decorated footballers, wore 42 during his early years at City, going on to become a club legend. He won three Premier League titles with the club and remains the only African to have lifted the CAF Player of the Year award four times, alongside captaining Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2015.

For Semenyo, the symbolism is hard to miss. The 25-year-old’s rise from Bristol City to becoming one of the Premier League’s most feared attackers at Bournemouth has marked him out as one of Ghana’s brightest stars. A move to City would represent a major step in his career, and stepping into a shirt associated with Touré adds extra weight to the moment.

While the clubs are yet to officially confirm the transfer, sources close to the deal suggest Semenyo is ready to embrace the challenge, with the number 42 seen as a nod to the African excellence that has shaped City’s modern history.

Should the deal go through, the sight of a Ghanaian forward wearing the same number once carried by an Ivorian midfield “overlord” would underline a growing West African imprint at one of Europe’s most dominant clubs.