With 21 goals in 34 games in his debut season in Germany and having been named the Bundesliga rookie of the month for a record five times, Victor Boniface was without doubt Nigeria’s best performer in Europe in the ‘23-’24 season. Just as he was hoping to replicate his club’s stellar performance on the international stage, injury struck as the 23-year-old got injured during Super Eagles 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire. As if that was not bad enough. In the winter transfer window of 2025, the 24-year-old proposed €60 million move from Bayer Leverkusen  to Al Nassr, which would have made him one of Africa’s biggest earners. Regrettably, the deal didn’t fall through due to injury after he had already packed his bags in preparation for the Saudi Arabian trip. And only last week, a proposed move to Serie A giants, AC Milan was botched after he failed the medicals, bringing a big question mark as to how long he can carry on

Nigerian International, Victor Boniface looked set to be the face of Bayer Leverkusen a couple of years ago when he joined the side, as he helped them lift their first Bundesliga title, win the DFB-Pokal and finish as runner-up in the Europe League.

The 24-year-old netted 21 goals in 34 games in his debut season in Germany, but injuries sustained in previous years resurfaced last term, forcing Boniface to miss 14 games in total, though he did still manage to record 11 goals and an assist.

This summer, he was set for a move to Italy to pitch tent with Serie A giant, AC Milan after agreeing on  personal terms on a loan for about €5m initially, while adding a buy clause worth €24m.

Boniface was invited to Milan to complete his medical assessments last week, but after two days of tests, the Rossoneri pulled out of the move, citing concerns over the striker’s past knee ligament injuries.

Meanwhile, Boniface has spoken candidly about his battle with knee injuries after a proposed move to AC Milan collapsed.

The two ACL injuries he had suffered at the early stage of his football career continue to hunt him – first in the 2018-19 season and then in the 2020-21 season.

He missed 14 games last season due to multiple fitness problems. Following his failed medical, Boniface returned to Germany.

Speaking on a live stream, Boniface said: “The transfer didn’t work out because of my past injuries. I had two injuries to my right knee, and the problem has persisted for a long time. At one point, I had given up. While others were playing football, I was working just to get back to playing. After my second anterior cruciate ligament injury, I didn’t even want to play anymore because of the pain from the first one and what I had gone through during the second one. I also lost my mother during that time.”

Speaking to BILD, Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rofles spoke about Boniface’s failure to clear the Milan medical.

“If he comes back to Leverkusen, the Milan deal will be over. It’s no big secret,” he said. It is understood that the former Bodo/Glimt forward underwent four medical examinations in Italy.

However, the Rossoneri have withdrawn their interest amid concerns over his poor injury history.

If the deal had been completed, Boniface reportedly would have won the jersey number 22 at Milan following the footsteps of Brazilian great Kaka.

This is the second time in seven months that a transfer away from Leverkusen has broken down for Boniface.

In January, the 24-year-old came close to joining Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in a deal worth around €70 million.

The forward had already prepared to travel before the move was cancelled, with Al Nassr opting instead to sign Colombian striker Jhon Duran.

Milan had been eager to add firepower to their attack, with Boniface viewed as a strong partner for Rafael Leão and a possible complement to fellow Nigerian Samuel Chukwueze, who joined from Villarreal in 2023.

Leão had even welcomed the prospect of the Nigerian arriving at San Siro. But with the deal now off, Boniface will remain in Germany.

The striker is under contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2028 and is expected to rejoin Erik ten Hag’s squad.

For Boniface, the collapse of another high-profile move is a frustrating setback. Still, his presence offers Leverkusen much-needed depth as they look to recover from a stuttering start under Ten Hag.

It would be recalled that ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in CoteD’Ivorie, and just as soccer-loving Nigerians were still trying to grapple with Wilfred Ndidi’s absence from the tournament through injury, the Super Eagles suffered another injury blow after Boniface was ruled out of the biennial competition due to injury he suffered in Nigeria’s training camp in Abu Dhabi.

Prior to the 2023 AFCON, the then 23-year-old had been in good form for his German club, Bayer Leverkusen, scoring 10 goals and seven assists, and in the running to be named the Bundesliga rookie of the month for a fifth consecutive time.

He shared his disappointment with his followers on X, having also previously missed the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations through injury.

It was not the first time Boniface would miss a major tournament on the eve of the event. He was forced to withdraw from the 2019 CAF U20 Nations Cup in Niger seven days before the competition kicked off.

Taking to social media, Boniface had lamented his misfortune.

Writing on X, the striker said: “U20 nations cup got injured 7 days before Nations Cup. Super Eagles got injured 6 days before Nations Cup. Only God knows why.”

The 6’3” attacker, who joined the Bundesliga giants in the summer of 2023, left for Europe in 2019 from Nigerian youth club, Real Sapphire, but suffered two ACL injuries before the age of 21.

According to Eurosport, Boniface, who will miss the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria through another injury setback, disclosed he had given up on football after his second ACL injury.

“When I saw the doctor, he told me something bad happened and I tore my (ACL)? again. It was hell. I spoke to the coach; I said I wanted to go back to Nigeria.

“I was thinking, ‘what shall I do after football?’ At the age of 21, and 22, I had two ACL injuries. It was so terrible for me. They said I had to do surgery, but may not need it for a few months. It was 14 months in total. I almost gave up.”

Boniface would eventually bounce back from his injury setbacks, excelling with Bodo/Glimt and Union Saint-Gilloise before sealing a big move to Bayer Leverkusen.

With Boniface’s persistent knee problem, it remains to be seen how much he has left to play, at least at the highest level.

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