Victor Boniface’s biggest problem revealed: Why top clubs are waiting before making move

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Victor Boniface’s 2025/26 season was one of the most difficult periods of his professional career, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Nigerian striker went from being linked with top European clubs to spending much of the campaign battling injuries, fitness problems and a lack of playing time.

A couple of years ago, Boniface was one of the stars of Bayer Leverkusen’s historic double-winning season, scoring 21 goals and providing 10 assists across all competitions. His performances helped Leverkusen win both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal, turning him into an elite forward who was destined to be Nigeria’s next €100 million star after Victor Osimhen.

However, everything changed during the 2025 summer transfer window. AC Milan pushed hard to sign the striker and reportedly reached an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for an initial €5 million loan deal that included a €24 million purchase option. Earlier in the year, Saudi Arabian giants Al Nassr were also linked with a massive €70 million move.

Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface

Neither transfer happened. The Milan deal collapsed after medical examinations raised concerns about recurring knee issues, while the Saudi move never progressed to completion.

As uncertainty grew around his future, Leverkusen decided to send Boniface on a season-long loan to fellow Bundesliga side Werder Bremen on September 1, 2025. Unfortunately, the move failed to revive his career.

Victor Boniface: Injuries, goal drought and a difficult loan spell

Victor Boniface struggled to establish himself at Werder Bremen under coach Horst Steffen. Instead of becoming a regular starter, he was mostly used from the bench and found it difficult to adapt to the team’s tactical system.

His numbers perfectly painted the picture of those struggles. The Nigerian made only 11 Bundesliga appearances, nine of them as a substitute. He played just 332 minutes, scored no goals and provided two assists. He attempted 10 shots and received one yellow card during the campaign.

Things became even worse in January 2026 when recurring knee problems forced him to undergo surgery. Bremen announced that he would miss the rest of the season, effectively ending any chance of rebuilding momentum.

Although he later returned to light training and there were hopes of a comeback before the season ended, his impact on the pitch remained minimal.

At the end of the campaign, Boniface returned to Bayer Leverkusen, where he continued his rehabilitation programme under the club’s medical staff.

The biggest problem Boniface must fix to attract Europe’s elite

While the knee injury has largely healed, Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes believes Boniface still has one major obstacle standing between him and a return to the highest level.

According to Rolfes, the striker’s physical condition and weight management have become concerns.

“His knee looks quite good today. But his weight is a bit of a weak point. Our goal is for him to get back into top form. Then he’ll have a future with many teams,” Rolfes said, per NZ.

The Leverkusen chief also revealed that he remains in regular contact with the Nigerian forward as they work toward restoring his fitness.

Reports and photographs that emerged towards the end of his loan spell suggested Boniface was carrying extra weight, which further limited his chances of returning to action after surgery.

Clubs interested in signing Boniface this summer are aware that there is no issue about his talent. Boniface has already shown he possesses the quality to dominate at the highest level. The real question is whether he can regain the physical sharpness that made him such a dangerous striker during Leverkusen’s title-winning campaign.

If he returns to peak condition, interest from clubs such as AC Milan, Napoli, West Ham United, Chelsea and Arsenal could quickly reappear. His combination of strength, movement and finishing remains highly valued across Europe.

Leverkusen, meanwhile, may decide to keep him. The Nigerian remains under contract until 2028, and club officials have repeatedly backed him to rediscover his best form.

Still on vacation in Nigeria, Boniface knows that the mission this summer is to stay fit, control his weight and prove that the difficult 2025/26 season was only a temporary setback rather than the beginning of a decline.