NEW recruit Antoine Semenyo says it feels “unbelievable” to have joined Cherries, adding: “I’ve been waiting for a while for this to be done.”

Cherries held a long-term interest in the Bristol City forward and finally got a deal over the line on Friday.

Having had two bids rejected earlier in the window, the two clubs agreed a reported £9million fee for the 23-year-old.

Ghana international Semenyo has put pen-to-paper on a deal which runs until the summer of 2027, becoming the club’s third signing of the January transfer window, after Dango Ouattara and Darren Randolph.

Discussing his move to Cherries with afcbTV, Semenyo said: “It’s unbelievable, to be honest. I’ve been waiting for a while for this to be done.

“I’m happy it’s done and can’t wait to get started.

“The interest was there from last summer.

“An injury occurred so that kind of downplayed it a little bit.

“But I continued, came back from injury, started playing well and the interest came back again. So I can’t complain.

“I dreamed of this (playing in the Premier League) as a kid. Now it’s reality, now it’s time to get to work.”

He added: “It’s been a long journey, it’s been tough, so it’s nice to reap the rewards now.”

Asked what the few days prior to the deal being confirmed had been like, Semenyo added: “Doing the medical for starters, it was really long.

“But just checking the body is right and making sure everything is good.

“So it consisted of that and a lot of travelling, but I’m here now, so I’m happy.”

Born in Chelsea, Semenyo was snapped up as a 17-year-old by Bristol City and eventually progressed into the first team picture, after loan spells at Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland.

He leaves the Robins having netted 20 goals and provided 22 assists from 124 appearances, most of which in the Championship.

Reflecting on his EFL experience, Semenyo said: “It was very important, to be honest.

“I’d never been in an academy set-up before joining Bristol.

“So I had to learn a lot, learn on the go and it was so beneficial for me.

“Leading up to now, I’m so thankful and can’t wait to get started here and show what I can do.

“The Championship is very hard. The games are relentless – Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, constantly.

“You’re having to adapt, recover, make sure your body is right.

“I have done that well enough to get this move over the line so I can’t complain.”

Asked what he can bring to Cherries, Semenyo said: “I play along the front three, left, right and down the middle.

“I’m quick, strong and can use both feet really well.

“I’m hoping I can add that to the team and help us win games.”