Victor Boniface took an important step in his comeback after scoring twice in Bayer Leverkusen’s 7-0 pre-season win over fifth tier German club Sportfreunde Baumberg, ending a long wait for a goal in Bayer colours that stretched back to March 2025.

The friendly carried no competitive stakes, but it marked a significant moment for the 25 year old, whose career has been disrupted by injuries over the past year. Boniface spent much of the 2025/26 season battling knee problems and fitness struggles during a loan spell at Werder Bremen, raising questions over whether he could return to the level that made him a key figure in Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double-winning campaign in 2023/24.

After the final whistle, Boniface admitted the past year had been one of the toughest periods of his career, saying he is happy to be training, playing, and doing what he loves again. He was careful not to put a timeline on a full return to form, saying only that his focus is on continuing to build.

The brace has also revived discussion about his future. Boniface remains under contract at Bayer Leverkusen until June 2028, and his market value has fallen sharply from around €40 million at its peak to roughly €5 million following his injury struggles, though his encouraging start to pre-season has shifted the conversation somewhat.

New Bayer Leverkusen head coach Carles Martinez made clear the club won’t rush Boniface back into full expectations, saying the priority is helping him improve physically and train consistently with the group. Sporting director Simon Rolfes echoed that caution, describing the performance as an encouraging first step rather than the finished product, while noting Boniface is already in much better shape than earlier in the year, even if reaching his previous level will still take time.

For now, Bayer appear focused on rebuilding Boniface gradually rather than pushing for immediate results, with the club remaining the most likely destination for his 2026/27 season. Competition for a starting spot remains fierce, with Patrik Schick leading the attack and highly rated youngster Christian Kofane also pushing for opportunities. A transfer remains a possible alternative, though any move would likely hinge on extensive medical checks after previous high-profile moves to Saudi Arabia and Serie A collapsed over concerns about his recurring knee issues and past ACL injury.