Leverkusen chief: Boniface stays put, chance will come
Bayer Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes has shut down January exit talk around Victor Boniface, telling the Nigerian striker to stay patient. According to Sky Sports, Boniface wants to leave when the window reopens after struggling for minutes this season. Rolfes disagrees: "That doesn't change Boni's situation. He needs to stay fit, keep at it and improve, then his opportunity will arise. I'm not worried."
Boniface spent last season on loan at Werder Bremen and returned expecting more game time. Instead, he's been a squad option behind first-choice attackers. For Super Eagles watchers, this matters—Boniface's club form directly impacts his national team sharpness ahead of World Cup qualifiers.
The club's stance is clear: no January sale unless a massive offer arrives. Rolfes' public backing suggests Leverkusen still rate the 25-year-old. But playing time won't be gifted—he has to force his way in.
If you're tracking Nigerian players abroad, this is a "wait and see" situation. Boniface staying and fighting could revive his season. Leaving in January guarantees minutes elsewhere but resets his adaptation clock. Either way, his next move shapes Nigeria's striker options for 2026.