Soccer
Victor Boniface in action for Werder Bremen. Copyright: Imago
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface will leave Werder Bremen and return to Bayer Leverkusen following the conclusion of his loan deal, Soccernet.ng reports.
The past year has been grueling for Boniface. Last summer, he was on the verge of joining AC Milan, but the move collapsed at the eleventh hour due to a failed medical.
Bayer Leverkusen, eager to part ways with the striker after former coach Erik ten Hag deemed him surplus to requirements, subsequently sent him out on loan to Werder Bremen.
It was expected that Boniface would become an integral figure for Bremen, but regular playing time eluded him. The Super Eagles star was restricted to a fringe role, mostly making cameo appearances off the bench.
His fortunes worsened in December when it was revealed he was suffering from a knee injury that ultimately required surgery.
Although he returned to full training last month, Boniface has not played a single minute since his recovery, with initial fears suggesting he would miss the remainder of the campaign entirely.
Werder Bremen will play their final game of the season against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Ahead of the fixture, it has been confirmed that Boniface will depart the Weserstadion.
The Nigerian marksman will return to parent club Bayer Leverkusen, where he still has two years left on his current contract.
Following the confirmation of his exit, Boniface took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his gratitude to the Werder Bremen staff, players, and faithful.
”Wow. Crazy season for me, a lot has happened. Just want to say thank you very much to fans and staff and players.”
As Boniface heads back to Leverkusen, his future hangs precariously in the balance. A frustrating spell with injuries has overshadowed the prolific form he showed when Die Werkself clinched the Meisterschale two years ago.
Nonetheless, the forward will be determined to prove his quality and win over coach Kasper Hjulmand ahead of next season.
Kelvin Omachonu
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
Read MoreKelvin Omachonu