Victor Boniface’s former coach accepts Chelsea job: Will Blues move for Nigeria star?

Chelsea are set to hand the reins to former Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso after the Spaniard reportedly agreed a four-year deal running until June 2030, Afrik-Foot reports.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has already given the move his trademark ‘Here We Go’, while reports from several English outlets suggest talks in London moved quickly once Chelsea’s hierarchy decided Alonso was their preferred choice.

The appointment represents another major rebuild at Chelsea, but this time the club appear determined to give their new coach more authority than previous managers received under the current ownership. Chelsea’s board believe Alonso can shape the club into a possession-based side capable of competing again with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Alonso’s reputation rose sharply after his extraordinary spell with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. During the 2023-24 campaign, he guided the German side to the first Bundesliga title in their history without losing a single league match. Leverkusen also lifted the DFB-Pokal and later won the German Super Cup, while a 51-game unbeaten run became one of the longest sequences recorded in European football.

At the centre of that success was Nigerian striker Victor Boniface.

Signed from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise in the summer of 2023, Boniface exploded into life under Alonso’s guidance. The forward scored 32 goals in 61 appearances across all competitions during Alonso’s reign and quickly became one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting attackers.

But beyond the goals, Alonso’s relationship with Boniface stood out.

The Nigerian repeatedly described the Spaniard as a father figure rather than simply a coach. Alonso was known for speaking to players individually about life away from football, and Boniface openly praised him for caring about his emotional wellbeing as much as his performances on the pitch.

That bond became especially visible in October 2024 when Alonso decided to leave Boniface out of a Champions League match following the striker’s traumatic car accident. Although medically fit, Alonso believed the Nigerian needed emotional recovery time.

On the pitch, Alonso also transformed Boniface tactically. The manager encouraged him to become more aggressive inside the penalty area, often using Didier Drogba as an example of how powerful strikers dominate defenders physically and mentally.

Chelsea? Bremen nightmare leaves Boniface facing uncertain future

Sadly, the possibility of Alonso and Boniface reuniting at Chelsea may not surface this summer, especially given Chelsea’s long-standing search for a reliable centre-forward.

Fit and firing, Boniface would have easily been on Alonso’s shortlist of attackers to take to Chelsea. However, the Super Eagles striker has endured a difficult few months.

Boniface’s career has stalled dramatically over the past year following Alonso’s departure from Leverkusen. New coach Erik ten Hag reportedly viewed the striker as surplus to requirements, while a proposed transfer to AC Milan collapsed after concerns during his medical assessment.

The Nigerian was eventually loaned to SV Werder Bremen in an attempt to rebuild his confidence and sharpness, but the move turned into a frustrating spell. Boniface failed to score in 11 Bundesliga appearances and struggled for rhythm before suffering a serious knee injury in December 2025.

The injury required surgery and effectively ended his season. Although he returned to training during the spring, Bremen confirmed this week that the striker will leave the club and return to Leverkusen at the end of the campaign.

That difficult run has weakened hopes of an immediate reunion with Alonso at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s recruitment model under their current ownership has focused heavily on young players with strong fitness records and long-term resale value. Boniface’s failed medical before the Milan move, combined with recurring injury concerns and a goalless league season, make him a risky option for a club under pressure to return to the Champions League.

Alonso may still appreciate Boniface’s qualities better than almost any coach in Europe, but Chelsea are expected to prioritise proven, fully fit attacking targets capable of making an instant impact in the Premier League.

The immediate challenge for Boniface is no longer securing a glamorous transfer. It is proving that his body can withstand a full pre-season again.

If he can rediscover the explosive form that once made him the face of Alonso’s unbeaten Leverkusen side, the conversation around a reunion may return in the future. Right now, though, Chelsea appears a bridge too far.