Antoine Semenyo took his time while walking back to the dugout after he was substituted following his injury-time winner for Bournemouth in the 3-2 victory against Tottenham.
He was absorbing the standing ovation from the Cherries faithful – perhaps for the last time.
The Ghana winger is expected to complete his move to Manchester City before Saturday after Pep Guardiola’s side agreed to meet his £65m release clause.
If that is the case, what a parting gift it was from Semenyo on his 26th birthday.
He was passive for much of the contest and his biggest contribution in the first half was perhaps not getting a touch on Tavernier’s cross which could have ruled out Bournemouth’s second goal for offside – but he stepped up when he was needed yet again.
With Bournemouth searching for a winner in the stoppage time, David Brooks was forced to retreat from a busy Spurs box but Semenyo found a way through.
Receiving a pass from Brooks, he curled his shot from the edge of the box past a diving Djordje Petrovic as the Bournemouth faithful sang his name one last time.
It was his 10th goal this season, showing he is a player on the ascendancy after building on a 2024-25 campaign in which he contributed 11 goals and six assists.
Semenyo departs having with 32 goals and 13 assists from 110 appearances, since joining from Bristol City in 2023.
