In the summer of 2023, Victor Boniface quietly transferred from Union Saint-Gilloise to Bayer Leverkusen. Just one season later, he replaced Patrik Schick as the club’s top striker and played a pivotal role in helping Leverkusen secure a historic Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double.
What makes this Nigerian No. 9 so difficult to deal with?
Boniface’s Remarkable Stats and Impact
Let’s take a look at the numbers: in 38 appearances across all competitions, Boniface has scored 24 goals. His physical strength allows him to involve teammates in play, resulting in 11 assists. In total, he’s been directly involved in a goal every 68 minutes for Leverkusen.
After a slow start this season, Boniface came alive in the third round against Hoffenheim, scoring twice and assisting Martin Terrier’s opener in a 4-1 victory at the PreZero Arena.
“This was important for his confidence and mood,” Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso said after the match. “Now I expect ‘Boni’ to show his best form. Defenders always find it hard to deal with him, but he can and must do more. He knows that, and the team needs him.”
Alonso is confident the 23-year-old is only just entering his prime football years. Despite taking until the third game of the season to break his scoring drought, Boniface has been relentless since. In his first three games, he averaged 17 shots, four more than any other player. Last season, he took about 100 shots, averaging four per game.
While those numbers might suggest Boniface is a “shoot-on-sight” forward, his decision-making is far more sophisticated. In last Saturday’s match, he showcased this by bypassing an offside trap, going one-on-one with Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, and instead of shooting, setting up Terrier for a simple goal. His unselfish play benefits the entire team.
Leverkusen’s possession-based style, with a pass completion rate of 89.4% this season, reflects their dominance, but their attacking options aren’t limited, thanks to Boniface’s versatility. Standing at 6’3” with a lean yet muscular frame, Boniface can reach speeds of 20.46 mph (32.93 km/h), which helps him shake off defenders. His long passes have also become increasingly accurate.
Last season, he had a 46% success rate in duels, which has risen to 49% this year—a testament to his resilience after recovering from two ACL tears and missing 23 matches last season due to a groin injury.
Boniface himself acknowledges the influence of Alonso, saying, “Imagine you’re training, and your coach is doing things better than you. It makes you want to raise your game. Having him involved in training is motivating.”
Alonso, having played with elite forwards like Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Fernando Torres, seems to be shaping Boniface into a multi-dimensional attacker—a thought that surely worries opposing teams. As Boniface continues to excel, it’s only a matter of time before more trophies come his way this season.
