Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has reaffirmed his commitment to Bayer Leverkusen despite missing out on a high-profile move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
The Nigerian forward was on the verge of completing a €60 million*transfer to Al Nassr, with personal terms reportedly agreed.
However, in a late twist, the Saudi club opted to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán instead, paying a higher 77 million fee for the Colombian.
This unexpected decision left Boniface’s future in question, especially after he was excused from training and omitted from Leverkusen’s Champions League squad on Wednesday.
However, by Thursday, he had rejoined training, sharing a photo with his teammates to signal his focus on the club.
Had the transfer gone through, Boniface would have seen his salary skyrocket from €2 million to €15 million per year. However, he remains unfazed by the financial implications, telling SportsBoom:
“Transfer rumors are normal in football. It’s always flattering when big clubs show interest, but my focus right now is 100% on Bayer Leverkusen.
A lot of calculations have also happened here and there, but I love playing here, and I want to give my best to the team.
What happens in the future will happen, but for now, my mind is only on helping Leverkusen achieve our goals.”
Alonso Backs Boniface
Victor Boniface and Bayer Leverkusen manager, Xabi Alonso.
With the saga settled, Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso expressed satisfaction with keeping the Nigerian forward.
*”He will train again tomorrow. I believe he is staying with us, and I’m happy. So I have to say that I am satisfied, I am happy. He is comfortable here, so I don’t believe that this is a big stress for him.
He is comfortable here,” Alonso stated in quotes revealed by Fotmob following Leverkusen’s 2-0 win over Sparta Prague.
Boniface remains a key asset for Leverkusen, who signed him for €20 million plus add-ons in the summer of 2023.
His impact was immediate, playing a crucial role in the club’s historic double-winning season, scoring 21 goals and providing 10 assists in 34 games across all competitions.
Bouncing Back From Injury
This season, despite being sidelined since November 2024 with a thigh injury, the 24-year-old has already registered eight goals and one assist in 15 appearances. Now back in action, he will aim to help Leverkusen maintain their strong domestic and European form.
For now, his future remains in Germany—but should another lucrative offer emerge, Leverkusen may reconsider their stance on a sale.
