The former Bundesliga title-winner is struggling for minutes in Germany, and Leverkusen’s sporting director says the club is open to a loan.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Nigeria striker Victor Boniface has reportedly told his representatives he wants to leave Bayer Leverkusen in January, as FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports. Sky Germany says he would accept either a loan or a permanent move.
The 25 year old has made just two Bundesliga appearances this season, including five minutes in Leverkusen’s 3-2 opening-day defeat to promoted Elversberg. Reports put his total at around 12 minutes in all competitions.
His frustration grew when Leverkusen left him out of their Europa League squad. After Martin Terrier suffered a long term injury, the club registered Jonas Hofmann as his replacement instead of Boniface. Readers following the transfer window can see the Bet9ja welcome promo details.
Coach Carles Martinez had also overlooked him in a league game. Boniface was the only recognised striker on the bench with Christian Kofane absent, yet Martinez sent on attacking midfielder Hofmann for Patrik Schick.
Sporting director Simon Rolfes said on October 24 that the reports do not change Boniface’s situation. He said the striker needs to stay fit and keep improving, and that his chance will come. The club remains open to a loan so he can regain sharpness.
Boniface’s form is a far cry from 2023/24, when he scored 21 goals as Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title. Last season was disrupted by injuries, and a proposed AC Milan move collapsed after a medical. New Bet9ja users can look up the YOHAIG code for Bet9ja bettors.
He spent last season on loan at Werder Bremen, where he made 11 appearances without a goal. A persistent knee problem required specialist consultation in Innsbruck in January 2026, and his loan effectively ended.
Boniface’s contract runs until June 2029, but he has fallen behind Schick and Kofane in the pecking order. No advanced talks with other clubs have been reported yet.
The situation also matters for Nigeria. Boniface is not in Eric Chelle’s 24 man squad for the Tanzania double-header. Readers curious about promotions can read about what a Bet9ja promotion code means.
A January move would need to offer regular football. Can Boniface rediscover his best form away from Leverkusen?
📌 Did You Know?
- Boniface was left out of Leverkusen’s initial Europa League squad in September, before the club declined to register him later.
- Terrier was injured in Leverkusen’s win over Lech Poznan in the Europa League.
- Rolfes has said Boniface must improve his pressing and fitness.
- A January 2025 move to Saudi side Al-Nassr fell through, with Leverkusen reportedly set to receive up to €70 million.
- During that saga, Boniface was left out of training and one matchday squad.

