Bournemouth

Slobodan Maricic
BBC Serbia journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"Everything happened so quickly."

That is how 18-year-old Bournemouth defender Veljko Milosavljevic sums up the whirlwind of recent months in his career.

After making the summer move from Red Star to the Cherries, and impressing in his debut against Brighton, the young centre-back has received his first call-up to Serbia's national team for matches against Albania and Andorra.

"I came through all the youth national teams, and now I'm a part of the senior squad. It's an incredible feeling," Milosavljevic told the website of his nation's FA.

Just a year ago, he played in Serbia's second division for Red Star's development team.

"There's not much time to adapt in football," he added. "As soon as you get a chance, you must grab it with both hands. I was lucky to do that and everything's been going to plan."

In one of his rare interviews - he has not really had time for many yet, that is how young he is - Milosavljevic recalls how proud he felt the moment he saw his name in the starting line-up against Brighton, which he described as "an unbelievable and unreal feeling".

Even though he missed the next two games and got only six minutes against Fulham, Milosavljevic is not concerned, adding: "I just joined the club, I'm working hard, making progress. The minutes on the pitch will come."

His team-mates are helping him a lot, he said, especially goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, as well as fellow centre-back Marcos Senesi, who has even learned a few Serbian words.

After the international break, Bournemouth will face Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, when Milosavljevic might go up against the mighty Erling Haaland.

"I can't even describe how I feel right now," he said. "Not long ago, I was watching these players and the Premier League on TV and now I might play against them."

He is especially excited about the chance to face Liverpool, the team he calls "his favourite after Red Star".

Manchester United have moved ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign 25-year-old Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo. (Caught Offside), external

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Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Another sign of Bournemouth's progress is the number of players they now routinely lose for a week or two during the international break.

Last season's away game at Aston Villa was a landmark as it was the first time in the club's history that they had fielded an entire starting XI of full international players.

They have come tantalisingly close to doing so again this season, but for the right-back role being filled by a combination of Adam Smith, James Hill and Alex Jimenez who have only been capped up to Under-21 level.

The same applies to Alex Scott, while Marcus Tavernier played for England Under-20s in his Middlesbrough days, and Bafode Diakite appeared for the French Olympic team (effectively an under-23 side) though not in the Olympics itself.

However, Diakite has seen two of his fellow centre-backs given fresh call-ups for this round of internationals.

Veljko Milosavljevic, after only one start for the Cherries since joining from Red Star Belgrade, has graduated to the full Serbia squad where he will join his goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

Meanwhile, Marcos Senesi's sparkling form has not only made him the top points-scoring defender in Fantasy Premier League, but has earned him a recall by Argentina - three years after winning his only cap.

Born in Argentina of Italian descent, Senesi's international career began in unusual fashion when, before the Finalissima between Italy and Argentina at Wembley in 2022, he found himself called up by both teams for the same match.

'El Gladiador' chose Argentina, eventually debuting in a friendly against Estonia a few days later, and later that summer left Feyenoord for Bournemouth.

A regular in his first two seasons with the Cherries, Senesi was unable to reclaim his starting place last season on returning from injury, because of the form of Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi.

But with that pair departed for big-money summer moves, Senesi has grasped the opportunity and taken on something of a leadership role at the back as the Cherries' young, multinational and multi-lingual defence has come together.

Senesi told the club website last week, external that he had even learned the words for "left" and "right" in Serbian, to help when playing alongside Milosavljevic.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Few players have embodied Bournemouth's electric start more than Antoine Semenyo.

Six goals and three assists in seven games have propelled Andoni Iraola's side into the top four, but beyond the raw numbers, Semenyo's underlying data shows a player who has evolved from a direct, unpredictable winger into one of the Premier League's deadliest finishers.

The radar chart below comparing the 2024–25 and 2025–26 campaigns highlights that shift. Last season (yellow), Semenyo was a high-volume shooter, often from distance with inconsistent returns. This season (black), he is taking fewer, better shots and converting at a far higher rate.

The stats are expressed as percentiles, which show how a player compares with others in the same position - 100 means they are the very best, while 50 is average.

Here, Semenyo's expected goals (xG) and goals-per-shot percentiles have climbed steeply, reflecting both improved accuracy and smarter shot selection.

Most striking is his average shot distance. He is getting closer to the goal before shooting (as illustrated below), timing his runs into more dangerous central areas and benefiting from Bournemouth's rapid attacks.

Under Iraola, the 25-year-old is no longer just an outlet - he's a focal point. His movement between the full-back and centre-half has become one of Bournemouth's most reliable attacking patterns.

The percentage of Semenyo's shots hitting the target tells its own story. Now, his efforts are more frequently taken from inside the box and also precise. He mixes power with placement, showing the sort of composure that once eluded him.

It is a reflection of a player growing in confidence.

Image source, Opta

The Ghanaian's raw attributes are clear - pace, strength, and directness. But this version of him - balanced, efficient, and ruthless - looks like the finished product of Iraola's patient coaching.

It is no accident. Over the summer, several clips circulated showing Semenyo practising his finishing with drills for first-time shots, trying from tight angles and when off balance. They were evidence of his determination to turn potential into end product - and early signs suggest the extra work is paying off.

All of this comes with an important caveat: we are only seven games into the Premier League season. The sample size is small and form fluctuates. But the consistency of his shot quality hints it may be more than a purple patch.

The data places him among the Premier League's most effective wide forwards so far this season, for both output and underlying performance.

If his form continues, Bournemouth's position in the table will not be just a fast start - it will be a statement. And for Semenyo, it might be the season where he goes from exciting to indispensable.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

I like to pride myself in spotting special talents early. Those with exceptional skills and special vision can be spotted in their teens, even when they are playing poorly.

There are a very small number, however, that creep up slowly and before you know it, you think: "The guy could be world class and he is 25 years old - how did I miss that one?"

Step forward Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo - an overnight sensation for some but a player whose progression has been exponential in the past 18 months.

A match-winning performance against Fulham on Friday underlined that his opening-night goals against Liverpool were anything but a fluke.

Some big clubs tried to prise him from the Cherries in the summer but he stayed - and even signed a new contract.

He might not stay for those five extra years, but Bournemouth can console themselves that he has probably doubled in value in these first seven games.

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• Not a Bournemouth fan? Find your Premier League club on BBC Sport

Even though there is no club football for almost two weeks, that does not mean there is not plenty going on at Bournemouth.

Do you have a burning question on a player's contract or form? Andoni Iraola's tactics? Or perhaps the January transfer window?

BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark is here to help and he will be answering a selection of your questions later this week.

So get them over to us using this form

Sam Davis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth kept up their strong start to the season with another impressive victory, this time at home to Fulham on Friday night. So despite some apprehension ahead of the new campaign, is it time for the Cherries faithful to set a higher bar and increase their ambitions somewhat?

It was understandable that many fans and media outlets were fairly sure that Andoni's men would struggle to hit the heights from last season's ninth-place finish. After all, the only remaining member of their regular defensive unit was stalwart Adam Smith, and even he has missed four of their opening seven league games through injury.

The club did well to try and replace what they had lost, but it's fair to assume that those new additions would have needed some time to bed in and adjust to what is a very specific style of play with Iraola. No one had needed to worry, though, as the new boys have more than settled in at rapid speed, as Bournemouth currently sit joint third in the Premier League table.

Many would agree that Djordje Petrovic looks like an upgrade on all three of their departing keepers so far. Equally, Bafode Diakite has seamlessly slotted into the side to partner Marcos Senesi at the heart of the defence, plus left back Adrien Truffert has been playing like he's an "adult version" of the departing Milos Kerkez.

The Cherries have always had goals in them, particularly with the way the coach sets them up, but to look harder to break down following such enormous defensive departures? It's remarkably impressive.

It's early days, but I for one certainly don't believe it's fanciful for Bournemouth fans to start dreaming that their best ever top-flight finish may be around the corner.

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Chelsea are interested in signing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo and are willing to pay about £78m for the 25-year-old Ghana striker. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

• Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

• Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Ben: We simply don't know when to quit! Excellent subs from Andoni Iraola, which changed the course of the game, and two moments of magic from Semenyo and Kluivert were just sublime. If I had to be picky, and I mean if, I would like Evanilson to start taking some of the chances he's getting. He needs to find his shooting boots.

Simon: Credit to both teams for such an entertaining game in atrocious conditions. All three Bournemouth goals were great to watch but we needed the whole team, both starting players and subs, to overpower Fulham in the last 15 minutes. Great to see the Cherries in second place in the Premier League before the rest of the weekend matches. Onwards and upwards!

Shaun: Unbelievable last 20 minutes or so, the strongest the bench has ever been and it showed tonight with the changes. Soaked through but well worth it!

Peter: An amazing late comeback. How do we keep Semenyo and Iraola? Kluivert is getting a reputation for spectacular goals. Bournemouth are on cloud nine! It's so exciting as an AFC Bournemouth fan.

Fulham fans

Norman: I am getting a bit worried for Fulham. We can't keep a clean sheet and we can't score goals. A recipe for disaster! Whoever is in charge of recruitment at Fulham needs replacing, the transfer window in the summer was abysmal. As supporters we live in hope and at the moment hope is all we have.

James: What a rubbish result. Exact replica of the Villa match. We can't keep doing this where we lose from a winning position like how we were top in that stat last season. The defence has to improve in stopping that.

Barry: A blustery wet Friday night in Bournemouth, eventually took the lead and then fell apart. Very Fulhamish. We will come again. Well played Bournemouth.

Kevin: They can't hold onto a lead. More work required on this.

Hear more from Andoni Iraola and Antoine Semenyo on BBC Sounds

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

Spanish manager Andoni Iraola is doing a fantastic job this season at Bournemouth, who seem to have brushed off the loss of £200m worth of first-team players in the summer.

They have not lost a game since the opening day defeat at Liverpool - and key to that has been Semenyo's form.

He is now up to six Premier League goals for the season, only behind Erling Haaland, after this fine double.

Iraola will deserve a lot of credit too as he replaced defender Marcos Senesi with winger Ben Gannon-Doak in a tactical reshuffle one minute before the comeback started.

Just seven minutes later - with his team having come from 1-0 down to 2-1 up - he changed the formation back by bringing on defender Veljko Milosavljevic for forward David Brooks.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Fulham's display?

Come back on Saturday for a selection of your replies

Bournemouth make four changes from their last game with David Brooks, Marcus Tavernier, Alex Scott and James Hill coming in.

Ryan Christie, Amine Adli, Justin Kluivert and Alejandro Jimenez drop to the bench from the team who drew 2-2 with Leeds.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Hill, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert, Adams, Scott, Semenyo, Tavernier, Brooks, Evanilson.

Subs: Dennis, Cook, Christie, Doak, Kluivert, Jimenez, Adli, Junior Kroupi, Milosavljevic.

Fulham do not have a fit striker, with Raul Jimenez not being passed fit to play and Rodrigo Muniz already ruled out.

Issa Diop replaces Jimenez from the team who lost 3-1 at Aston Villa.

Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Diop, Bassey, Lukic, Berge, Wilson, King, Sessegnon, Iwobi.

Subs: Lecomte, Cairney, Traore, Cuenca, Kusi-Asare, Chukwueze, Kevin, Smith Rowe, Robinson.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams says the team "are not surprised" by their impressive start after gaining 11 points from the opening six games.

"Our goals are extremely high," he told BBC South. "We are not surprised by our start because the mentality of every single person here is to win games.

"The team is working fantastically.

"It is bred within the club because when people see a training ground like this, you are excited to come every single day. We push each other to get better and the manager creates a very competitive environment and so does the depth in our team.

"If you train well, then you know it is your best opportunity to play games."

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth look to extend their unbeaten run to six league games as they take on a Fulham side yet to win away this season. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Friday's match.

Eli Junior Kroupi's injury-time equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Bournemouth at Leeds last weekend, meaning the Cherries have taken 11 points from their opening six fixtures, their best start to a top-flight campaign.

The performances of Antoine Semenyo, who netted the opening goal at Elland Road, have been key to their excellent early form. While the club cashed in on defenders Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez this summer, they are reaping the benefits of tying down the Ghana international to a new five-year contract.

Semenyo already has four goals this term, maintaining momentum from a strong finish to the 2024-25 campaign. He has been directly involved in 11 Premier League goals since the start of April, scoring eight and assisting three. The only player with a better combined tally in that time is West Ham's Jarrod Bowen.

Since joining the Cherries, the 25-year-old has consistently impressed with his direct style of play, work-rate and ability to use both feet, though he has not always been a ruthless finisher, registering a shot conversion rate of 9.2% in the Premier League between his debut in February 2023 and March 2025.

But that figure has risen to 21.1% over the past six months as he has become more selective with his efforts on goal. He has taken slightly fewer shots per 90 minutes but those attempts have, on average, carried a higher expected goals value.

Surrendering leads a costly habit for 'soft' Fulham

Fulham boss Marco Silva again turned his ire on the match officials after last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa, saying he found it "impossible" to understand why his side were denied two first-half penalties.

He drew comparisons with several disputed decisions that went against his team in August's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, asking why Ryan Sessegnon was penalised for handball at Stamford Bridge but Matty Cash escaped punishment for a similar act on Sunday.

Silva will, however, also have been frustrated to see the Whites again failed to capitalise on a strong start, with Raul Jimenez having put the visitors in front after just three minutes. That has been a recurring issue for the Londoners, who have lost four of their past seven league matches when scoring first.

In fact, Fulham have lost 31 points from winning positions since the start of last season, the second-highest figure in the top flight across that period.

Silva candidly admitted his side were "too soft" when it came to protecting their lead at Villa Park. More backbone will be required at Vitality Stadium, where Fulham have lost their past three games.

I was at Fulham's defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday - they had faded by the end but actually started the game really well and I was really impressed with Josh King.

He is only 18 but he already looks like one heck of a player. He has got wonderful awareness and he was outstanding before the break.

King was taken off in the second half when the game was getting away from Fulham, however, and Villa had carved them open a fair few times by the end.

Bournemouth only rescued a point against Leeds late on last time out - I was wrong to back the Cherries then but I am definitely going to back them at home against Fulham.

The Cherries edged this fixture 1-0 at the end of last season, and I am going with the same result and scoreline this time too.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Dan Roan
Sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

A decision on whether to scrap the Premier League's controversial Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and adopt an "alternative system" is "coming up", says chief executive Richard Masters.

The current regulations, introduced in 2015-16 to prevent clubs from overspending, allow losses of £105m over a three-year reporting cycle.

However, they have been criticised by several top-flight teams for limiting their ability to invest.

BBC Sport has been told a decision on any changes is likely to be made at a meeting in November.

In February, clubs chose to continue with PSR for the current season.

However a squad cost ratio (SCR) system of financial control was adopted by the Premier League on a shadowing, non-binding basis.

SCR is similar to Uefa's existing financial rules and allows clubs to spend up to a percentage of their total revenues on squad-related costs.

Nine of the league's 20 clubs already have to comply with Uefa's SCR as a result of qualifying for Europe. Both Chelsea and Aston Villa were fined by Uefa in July for breaching the rules.

Asked about SCR at the Leaders sports conference in London, Masters said: "We are talking to our clubs about an alternative system. That's not to say we don't think the PSR system works."

He added: "It's about closer alignment with European regulation, which is squad cost ratio, which is a revenue test. In Uefa, it's now set at 70%. Our system will be 85% because we always want our clubs to have the ability to invest.

"The Premier League has been built on the back of investment in which international capital flows [are] coming in. We don't want that to be to be stifled off."

Read more here

Werrda Ali
BBC Sport researcher

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Fulham at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Bournemouth's opportunity to go second: "I think it's too early to make conclusions. We are talking about very small differences. I think Fulham are now 11th or 12th. If they beat us, they are level on points. I don't look at the standings."

• Instead, he said that performances are important at this point in the season: "For me, it's about being competitive. I want to keep this level all season if we can. This is about small margins - all the games have been very level. I expect the same tomorrow."

• On how his side has maintained positive momentum this season: "We have a disadvantage with a lot of new players, especially young players, who have to adapt to the Premier League. We also have a big advantage, with some players that have been here two seasons and this is their third season. Those players help us integrate new players. This sustains us in moments when we need clarity on the pitch."

• On selecting his squad 24 hours before a fixture: "I don't decide the day before because they do something special but it's a moment where you can feel the mood of the players and see who can be mentally more switched on."

• On the importance of Marcos Senesi: "He's started a lot of games with us - I think he's a very good centre-back. What he can help us with as well is offensive set-plays because we are not a big threat normally. I think Marcos is one of the best assets in that department. Also, the combination with Milos [Veljko Milosavljevic], [James] Hill and Bafode [Diakite ] is quite good."

• On how Fulham can cause Bournemouth problems: "On the ball. They value possession. Technically, they have good combinations. Now [Alex] Iwobi and Josh King. King has been a big surprise - I didn't know about him at the beginning of the season and he has been playing really, really well. This combination with Iwobi and [Ryan] Sessegnon on the left side is really dangerous. I hope we can limit those things."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Having been forced to revamp their squad over the summer, Bournemouth have been able to enjoy some continuity of selection for the first month of the Premier League season, with nine of the 11 starting positions remaining unchanged for the first five games, and the other two only disrupted by injuries.

Captain Adam Smith's injury in game three at Tottenham meant James Hill initially filled the right-back berth, before new signing Alex Jimenez stepped in for the last two games.

Meanwhile, the only other early change came when Bafode Diakite missed the Brighton game with injury. Veljko Milosavljevic stepped in for that match, but despite a sparkling debut from the Serbian teenager, Diakite reclaimed his place the following week.

Boss Andoni Iraola's first unenforced changes to his starting XI came on Saturday at Leeds as Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert, who had both missed pre-season with injury, and summer signing Amine Adli were preferred to Alex Scott, Marcus Tavernier and David Brooks.

However, Iraola noticeably replaced Christie, Kluivert and Adli with Scott, Tavernier and Brooks in a triple substitution on the hour mark, with the Cherries trailing 2-1.

While Christie and Kluivert were automatic choices last season, their lack of pre-season minutes has left Iraola carefully managing their reintegration into the team, though that has been helped by the early form of Scott, who is enjoying one of his best spells since leaving Bristol City two years ago.

When you consider Bournemouth's high-energy style, injuries and suspensions are likely something they will have to deal with as the season progresses. But for now, there is competition for places, and a strong bench which has helped the Cherries ride an early wave.

Fulham are their next opponents, with Bournemouth looking to extend a sequence of three home wins over the Cottagers since they were both promoted back to the top flight in 2022, while a Friday evening game in front of the Sky TV cameras will evoke fan memories of a 2015 encounter, when the Londoners were thumped 5-1 with Brett Pitman and Steve Cook staging their own "goal of the season" contest on the same night.

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth remain unbeaten since their opening day defeat by reigning champions Liverpool, following a hard-fought draw with Leeds United at Elland Road.

A lot has been made of the Cherries' defensive solidity considering such an upheaval of their backline, but it was an attacking addition who stole the show at the weekend.

Eli Junior Kroupi was signed to provide cover and competition for main man Evanilson in Bournemouth's attack, and it was his last-gasp finish that earned Andoni Iraola's men a vital point on the road.

Kroupi scored an impressive 13 goals in as many games for Lorient last season, which helped the club on their way to promotion back to the top flight in France.

Going from the French second tier to the Premier League was always going to be a tough ask and, as expected, Kroupi has been used only as an impact sub thus far.

His introduction at the weekend was when the Cherries went for a 'throw the kitchen sink at it' approach, but his composure to rifle home in stoppage time could be a valuable weapon moving forward.

A consistent goalscorer will know where the net is at any level and Kroupi proved that with the way he positioned himself and comfortably swept home when needed - a big moment for him.

Will Kroupi get more minutes off the back of his impact on Saturday? Maybe. But one thing is for sure, Bournemouth have unearthed another cog in Iraola's well-oiled machine.

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