The 26-year-old signed a five-and-a-half-year deal, which will see him stay at the Etihad Stadium through to 2031, following his switch from Bournemouth.
Semenyo will go straight into the squad to face Exeter City in our FA Cup third round clash on Saturday at 15:00 (UK).
He is also eligible to play in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Newcastle and the boss is excited to have him available.
“Everybody knows the qualities [he has] - he was playing extraordinarily at Bournemouth in the last few years and can play both sides,” Guardiola said in his pre-match news conference.
“He uses both feet unbelievably. He can play as a striker too with his pace, he knows the Premier League, many clubs wanted him but he decided to join us. All I can say is thank you to him and we’re pleased for the next years.
“[For] a long time we’ve followed him. And in the end the situation we have with the wingers, we have three specific players with Oscar [Bobb], Savinho and Jeremy [Doku], we need to reinforce for the next years, which is why the Club made the gesture to take him.
“He’s the perfect age, the best years are to come, all the clubs try to bring in young players but he will make his career and best years here.”
SEMENYO’s PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS
With injuries and players away at the African Cup of Nations, the squad is stretched for what is a busy January schedule.
While Semenyo will no doubt be keen to make an instant impact, Guardiola said he can continue with his wing wizardry which made him such a threat at the Cherries.
It’s a similar simple message to the one that he gave to Max Alleyne who was impressing on loan at Watford before returning with a strong performance in the 1-1 draw with Brighton in midweek.
“The challenge is to be the same, I said it before to Max,” Pep added.
“You are a winger, make the action as a winger. With Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth he improved a lot.
“Understand he doesn’t come for one or two games, he comes for many years, he has all the time in the world.
“I know he is an exceptional guy from the information that we have. The team will embrace him because this specific group of players and club make the people who arrive so comfortable. And he will adapt quickly.”
