Rolfes Explains the Boniface Decision — And What It Means for His Future
In a highly revealing interview with journalist Oma Akatugba on April 10, 2026, Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes offered the most detailed and candid explanation yet for the club’s decision to send Victor Boniface on loan to Werder Bremen last September — and crucially, laid out a vision for the Nigerian striker’s continued future at the Bay Arena.
The interview, shared widely across Nigerian and European football media, addressed questions that had lingered throughout a difficult 18 months for the Akure-born striker: why did a player who was so central to Leverkusen’s historic Double season end up leaving on loan? Was the club losing faith? Was this the beginning of the end?
Rolfes’ answers were direct, warm, and illuminating. “He was key in the championship season. He was unbelievable in his performance,” the sporting director stated, referring to Boniface’s 21-goal, nine-assist debut Bundesliga campaign in 2023-24. “Second season, he had a little bit of problem with injuries and also last summer. We spoke together. We said he needs more training to get in his best shape again.”
The Al-Nassr Saga: A Club That Handled It Right
Central to any understanding of the past 18 months is the collapsed transfer to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr in the summer of 2025. Boniface had reportedly agreed personal terms with the Saudi club, and Leverkusen were prepared to sanction a sale. The deal fell apart at the final stage — the reasons remain private — leaving the Nigerian striker in an emotionally and professionally difficult position at the Bay Arena.
Rolfes acknowledged that conversations about the transfer happened openly. “It’s clear that there were conversations,” he said. “Victor is still a Bayer 04 player. We are very happy that he trains with us again.” The message was one of loyalty and forward focus — the kind of institutional commitment that is increasingly rare in modern football.
For Boniface, the Werder Bremen loan offered a fresh environment, regular playing time away from the Al-Nassr noise, and the opportunity to rediscover his form and fitness. That the injury struck again — knee surgery in January 2026 — was a cruel blow, but Rolfes emphasised that the club had been fully supportive throughout the rehabilitation process.
The Contract Extension: Confirmation of Long-Term Plans
The clearest signal of Leverkusen’s faith in Boniface comes from the reported contract extension talks. With his deal expiring in June 2026, the progression of discussions toward a new agreement confirms that the club’s long-term vision includes the Super Eagles striker as a central figure. The numbers from his 61 appearances — 32 goals, 12 assists — make an overwhelming statistical case for retention, even taking injury disruptions into account.
For Nigerian supporters who have followed Boniface’s career from his early days in Norway through to his Bundesliga breakthrough, the reassurance from Leverkusen’s most senior football executive is welcome and meaningful. The club believes in him. The question of whether his body will allow the full expression of his talent in the seasons ahead is the only remaining uncertainty. At 25, the hope — well founded in his talent — is that the best of Victor Boniface is still to come.
