Boniface rejoins Leverkusen training after failed Saudi transfer

By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 31, 2025

Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has returned to training with Bayer Leverkusen after seeing his potential €15m per season move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr called off, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Leverkusen man, who was excused from training and their match-day squad for the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, was quick to share a picture of himself and some of his teammates in training on Thursday in the wake of the announcement.

Although negotiations seemed to have gone swiftly between Leverkusen and Al Nassr, transfer new expert Fabrizio Romano reported that the deal didn’t eventually get a nod from the Saudi team.

“Victor Boniface and Al Nassr, deal off,” Romano posted via X.

“The Nigerian striker won’t join the club; the deal was advanced but never done as Al Nassr never gave the final green light.”

Leverkusen were going to be paid €60m, €10m more than their asking price of €50m for the player if the transfer was successful.

Al Nassr’s reasons for not proceeding with the deal are related to their pursuit of Aston Villa’s John Duran, a player they also identified before going for Boniface.

According to reports, Boniface was only the club’s second-choice option behind Duran but they had to prioritise the Nigerian’s negotiations because of Villa’s stance which did not guarantee a successful outcome for Duran talks initially.

However, that all changed on Wednesday after fresh rounds of negotiations. Villa significantly softened their stance and have now agreed to sell Duran to Saudi Arabia for a guaranteed fee worth €77m plus potential add-ons, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.

The Colombian has already agreed on a five-and-a-half-year deal and will travel to London on Thursday to complete his medical. Al-Nassr are trying to get the transfer over the line quickly as the Saudi window closes on January 31 as opposed to February 3 when the English period ends.

For Boniface, he would continue with Leverkusen, perhaps until the club gets another offer that matches their interest as they are willing to sell Nigerian whom they acquired for €20m plus add-ons in the summer of 2023.

He was one of the key players to their double triumph last season, scoring 21 goals plus 10 assists in 34 games across all competitions.

This season, he has eight goals and one assist across 15 games and has just recovered from a thigh injury which has kept him out since November 2024.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 31, 2025


 

You may also like...
Marathoner against Stevens-Johnson syndrome completes 717-kms trek from...

Mbappe focuses all attention as PSG face Real...

REVEALED: AFCON prize money for winners, runner-ups, others...

Enyimba overpower Nasarawa Utd., move into top half...

Sanchez Won’t Take Pay-Cut To Leave Man United...

How Falcons fared against Canada

 

Latest News Awori Unity Cup Kicks Off With Royal Splendour Assault: NPFL fan gets three-month sentence Nigeria names squad for U-18, U-20 zonal handball champs Flamingos target big win against Algeria Itauma: Nigerian-blooded heavyweight phenom poised to inherit Tyson’s throne At 25th Edelman Trust Barometer Launch, African Public Relations Association Hails Partnership With Edelman Enugu To Immortalize Christian Chukwu As Gov Mbah Visits Family Nigeria boosts flag football participation Aruna’s loss seals World Cup heartbreak for Africa NSC lauds Team Nigeria’s feat at ITTF world tourney Fed Cup: Rangers knock out Insurance in Lagos NOC To Hold Advanced Management Course In Ibadan

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,428 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,567 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,579 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,221 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,188 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,184 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,991 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,534 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,636 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,280 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,718 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,140 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media