Who is Victor Boniface? The next €100m rival to Haaland and Osimhen

Updated: 4 Sept 2023 14:10 BST
4 min read

Victor Boniface, Leverkusen, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Bayer Leverkusen may have snapped up the world's next €100 million striker when they signed Victor Boniface from Union Saint-Gilloise for a bargain €20.5m.

Boniface has taken to life in the Bundesliga like a fish to water, which has now seen him earn his first call-up to Nigeria's senior national team where he will link up - and perhaps even partner - none other than Victor Osimhen and Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi.

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But who is Victor Boniface and how good is he really?

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What position does Boniface play in?

Boniface is a central striker, a typical number nine.

How good is Boniface?

Boniface has made a habit of becoming the face of exciting up-and-coming teams. The Nigerian first burst onto the European scene with Bodo/Glimt with whom he twice won the Norwegian top division.

After scoring 23 and assisting eight in 66 games, he was snapped up by Union Saint-Gilloise as they looked to establish themselves in the Belgian top flight off the back of a stunning first season back in the top division that saw them mount an unlikely title challenge.

Boniface again impressed, scoring 17 and assisting 12 across 51 outings, which prompted Leverkusen to splash €20.5m on him after one season. Thanks to smart recruitment, Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen have quickly become one of the Bundesliga's most exhilarating teams and Boniface has played a huge part in that.

The Werkself has enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign, beating Leipzig, Mönchengladbach and promoted Darmstadt. Boniface, who is still only 22, has found the net four times across these three games while also setting up two goals.

Against Darmstadt, Boniface was compared to Erling Haaland because of his single-minded drive to score goals, but the Nigerian is much more than just a pure poacher. Against the promoted outfit, he showed the entire range of his technical abilities with two lovely finishes.

The first saw him embark on an insane run from his own box to the Darmstadt goal during which he dribbled past two defenders and deftly chipped the keeper. His second saw him take some excellent touches before slotting the ball into the net with his ostensibly weaker left foot.

Besides being sound with the ball at his feet and having an excellent game IQ, Boniface is also a physical presence at 190cm (6ft 3in) who can hold the ball up, while also being very fast for his size. As Xabi Alonso said, he is a "complete" striker.

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What clubs are interested in Boniface?

Transfer rumours surrounding Boniface have gone quiet given that he has only just signed for Leverkusen, but they are bound to flare up again if he keeps up his exceptional form.

Prior to his move, he was linked with the likes of AC Milan, Lazio and Napoli. Should Victor Osimhen leave Naples, Boniface would certainly be the ideal heir to his Super Eagles teammate.