Victor Boniface has left Bayer Leverkusen to join Werder Bremen on loan after completing a deadline-day move.
The Nigerian striker, who was linked with AC Milan earlier in the summer, will remain in Germany as he looks to regain form and consistency following an injury-hit campaign.
Boniface arrived at Leverkusen in 2023 from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise and quickly made an impact, helping the club to their historic Bundesliga title in 2024.
His debut season was prolific, scoring 21 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions.
However, his second year proved more challenging, with injuries restricting him to 27 matches in which he found the net 11 times, missing 14 games through fitness setbacks.
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes explained the reasoning behind the move.
With Patrick Schick, Christian Kofane and Boniface, we had three players for one position, Rolfes said. At Werder, Boniface will hopefully be able to make a fresh start at the highest level and demonstrate all his class.
The 23-year-old’s departure provides him with the opportunity for regular minutes in a side where he is expected to be central to Werder Bremen’s attack.
For Bremen, the acquisition of a forward with Bundesliga-winning experience represents a significant boost as they look to strengthen their offensive options.
Boniface’s story at Leverkusen has been one of brilliance tempered by frustration.
His initial burst of goals established him as one of the league’s most exciting forwards, but injuries repeatedly halted his progress.
Now, with the move to Bremen, both player and club will hope he can rediscover the sharpness that once made him one of the Bundesliga’s standout performers.
The Nigerian international’s loan spell also carries broader implications.
For Leverkusen, it eases the logjam in their attacking ranks while allowing Boniface the chance to prove his fitness and consistency away from the BayArena.
For Werder, it is a calculated gamble on a player whose quality is beyond doubt but whose durability remains under scrutiny.
Boniface will now aim to re-establish himself as a reliable goalscorer and build on the flashes of promise he showed during his early months in Germany.
If he succeeds at Bremen, the move could not only revitalise his career but also place him firmly back in the conversation as one of the Bundesliga’s top strikers.
