Bournemouth will aim to build on an impressive first season under Andoni Iraola, after the Cherries earned a Premier League club-record points total last season.
Premier League Season Preview 2024/25 – Bournemouth
Last season: 12th
Title odds: 500/1
TFF prediction: 16th
Transfers
In: Luis Sinisterra, Enes Unal, Dean Huijsen, Daniel Jebbison, Alex Paulsen.
Out: Dominic Solanke, Kieffer Moore, Lloyd Kelly, Jamal Lowe, Joe Rothwell, Alex Paulsen (loan,) Emiliano Marcondes, Ryan Fredericks, Darren Randolph.
After a false start to his reign on the south coast there were calls for Andoni Iraola to be included in the Manager of the Season conversation after leading Bournemouth to 12th last season. The Cherries claimed a record Premier League points total and won admirers for their high-intensity pressing football.
Dominic Solanke was an unfortunate exclusion from the England squad for Euro 2024 after a career-best campaign with the club, emphatically answering the reservations around his ability to score consistently in the top flight with 19 league goals. However, Solanke has since gone in a club-record sale to Spurs and Bournemouth will need to replace his goals from somewhere.
This angle of @DangoOuattara‘s cross 🎯 pic.twitter.com/mJsYvfeMtE
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 11, 2024
Bournemouth have quietly assembled a squad packed full of rich potential and the arrival of Dean Huijsen appears another coup for Iraola’s men. The 19-year-old showed signs of his promise on loan at Roma last season and there are sections of the Juventus support unhappy that the Dutch defender has been allowed to leave Turin. The towering Daniel Jebbison has been snapped up from relegated Sheffield United to replace the outgoing Kieffer Moore, while Enes Unal’s loan from Getafe has been turned permanent.
A talented young core featuring Illya Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez, Max Aarons and Antoine Semenyo – all aged 24 or under – offers encouragement that Bournemouth are building for the longer term.
There will also be hopes that Tyler Adams can recover from an injury-hit first season to become a key cog for the Cherries. The USA international has been sent to a back specialist to cure his ongoing issues and his ball-winning would aid Iraola’s side in their bid to regain possession as quickly as possible.
Key Player: Antoine Semenyo
After a quiet start to his Bournemouth career last season, Semenyo found his feet at Premier League level. The winger ended his debut campaign in the top tier with a respectable eight goals, behind only Solanke’s prolific return for the Cherries.
The Ghana international could be pushed into a more forward role after Solanke’s sale, where his ball-carrying and goal threat will be crucial to Andoni Iraola’s side. Between them, Semenyo, Justin Kluivert and Enes Unal need to step up and score goals.
Good morning 😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/ie9JE2OkCx
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) March 14, 2024
One to watch: Dean Huijsen
Bournemouth are confident the club have landed a bargain with the signing of Dean Huijsen for £13m.
The teenager is a modern centre-back with the attributes to make Juventus’ sale look premature and foolish. Excellent at defending his box and with the confidence to initiate attacks with passes off both feet and ball-carrying, his promise is clear.
