Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has resumed training with Bayer Leverkusen after his proposed €15 million-per-season move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr fell through.
The Nigerian striker, who was excused from training and left out of Leverkusen’s squad for their UEFA Champions League match on Wednesday, quickly shared a photo of himself back in training with his teammates on Thursday.
While negotiations between Leverkusen and Al Nassr progressed swiftly, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the deal ultimately collapsed due to Al Nassr’s hesitation.
“Victor Boniface and Al Nassr, deal off,” Romano posted on X. “The Nigerian striker won’t join the club; the deal was advanced but never completed as Al Nassr never gave the final green light.”
Leverkusen had agreed to sell Boniface for €60 million—€10 million above their initial €50 million asking price—but Al Nassr ultimately decided to pursue Aston Villa’s John Duran instead.
Reports indicate that Boniface was initially the club’s backup option behind Duran. However, with Aston Villa initially reluctant to sell, Al Nassr prioritized negotiations for Boniface. That changed on Wednesday after fresh talks saw Villa soften their stance, agreeing to sell Duran for a guaranteed €77 million plus potential add-ons, as reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Duran has already agreed to a five-and-a-half-year contract and is set to travel to London for his medical. Al Nassr is pushing to finalize the transfer quickly, as the Saudi transfer window closes on January 31—three days earlier than the English deadline of February 3.
As for Boniface, he remains at Leverkusen, where he could stay until another suitable offer arrives. The German club, which signed him for €20 million plus add-ons in the summer of 2023, remains open to selling him at the right price.
Boniface was instrumental in Leverkusen’s double-winning campaign last season, scoring 21 goals and providing 10 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions. This season, he has registered eight goals and one assist in 15 games but has only just returned from a thigh injury that sidelined him since November 2024.
With his future uncertain, Boniface will look to regain top form as Leverkusen continues its domestic and European campaigns.
RELATED: Transfer Update: Bayer Leverkusen Chief Confirms Boniface Won’t Join Al Nassr
