Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has resumed training with Bayer Leverkusen following the collapse of a potential €15m-per-season move to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.
Boniface, who was excused from training and left out of Leverkusen’s UEFA Champions League squad on Wednesday, shared a photo of himself training alongside teammates on Thursday after the news broke.
While negotiations between Leverkusen and Al Nassr appeared to progress smoothly, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Saudi club ultimately decided not to proceed with the deal.
“Victor Boniface and Al Nassr, deal off,” Romano posted via X.
“The Nigerian striker won’t join the club; the deal was advanced but never done as Al Nassr never gave the final green light.”
Bayer Leverkusen were set to receive €60m—€10m above their asking price of €50m—if Victor Boniface’s move to Al Nassr had been completed.
However, Al Nassr decided not to proceed with the deal, opting instead to pursue Aston Villa’s John Duran, a player they had initially targeted before Boniface.
Reports indicate that Boniface was only the club’s second-choice, with negotiations for Duran taking priority.
Villa’s initial stance had made it uncertain whether a deal for Duran would succeed, but this changed after fresh talks on Wednesday.
Villa softened their position, agreeing to sell Duran to Al Nassr for a guaranteed fee of €77m, plus potential add-ons, according to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein.
Duran has already agreed to a five-and-a-half-year deal and will undergo his medical in London on Thursday.
With this development, Al Nassr’s focus shifted back to Duran, and Boniface will remain with Leverkusen, at least until the club receives an offer that meets their expectations.
Leverkusen are reportedly willing to sell Boniface, whom they acquired for €20m plus add-ons in the summer of 2023.
Boniface was a key player in Leverkusen’s double triumph last season, contributing 21 goals and 10 assists in 34 games across all competitions.
This season, he has scored eight goals and provided one assist in 15 matches and has just returned from a thigh injury that kept him sidelined since November 2024.