Victor Boniface will remain at Bayer Leverkusen after his proposed transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr collapsed, despite initial agreements and a completed medical.
Boniface, who recently returned from injury, was left out of Leverkusen’s Champions League squad amid growing speculation over a move to the Middle East.
Al Nassr had reportedly agreed a €60m deal with the Bundesliga champions and were prepared to offer the Nigerian striker a staggering €15m-a-year salary, seven times his current earnings.
However, despite progress in negotiations, Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes confirmed that the deal had fallen through. Instead, Al Nassr shifted their focus to Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran, securing the Colombian forward in a blockbuster €77m transfer.
A missed opportunity for Boniface or a blessing in disguise?
For Boniface, the failed move represents another setback in a career already marked by challenges. The 24-year-old has endured two ACL injuries, missing over 400 days of football, while an abductor injury ruled him out of Nigeria’s AFCON squad earlier this year.
He had been open to joining Al Nassr, seeing it as an opportunity to play alongside his football GOAT, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané.
Now, with his future settled, Boniface will refocus on Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title defence and European ambitions. Having signed a contract extension until 2029, he remains a key part of Xabi Alonso’s squad.
According to reports from Sky Sports Germany, the 24-year-old’s new deal includes a significant pay increase, doubling his annual salary from €3 million to €6 million (around ₦9.5 billion).
After an injury-hit season, he will now look to rediscover the form that saw him score 21 goals and provide 10 assists in his debut campaign for the German champions.
