January 28, (THEWILL) – Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface was absent from training on Tuesday, with reports in Germany linking the 24-year-old to a potential transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
Manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that discussions regarding the player’s future were ongoing, adding that preparations for Leverkusen’s upcoming match remained unaffected by the uncertainty.
Boniface recently returned from injury and was an unused substitute in Leverkusen’s 2-2 Bundesliga draw with RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Before his injury in November, the Nigerian forward had registered eight goals in 15 appearances across all competitions.
Last season, Boniface’s 14 goals in 23 league matches played a crucial role in securing Leverkusen’s maiden Bundesliga title.
Speaking ahead of their UEFA Champions League fixture against Sparta Prague, Alonso stated: “The situation with Boniface does exist.
Negotiations are ongoing with the club, so we have to wait. Our preparation for the match remains the same. We prepared without Boni, of course, and we still have to wait a little longer to see how the situation unfolds.”
Leverkusen, currently 8th in the UCL standings with 13 points, have already secured a place in at least the knockout stage playoffs.
Sparta Prague, with only four points from seven games, have been eliminated from the competition.
The top eight teams progress automatically to the last 16, while clubs placed ninth to 24th will compete in the playoffs on 11th-12th and 18th-19th February.
Leverkusen are also grappling with key injuries to defender Jeanu Belocian and winger Martin Terrier.
Belocian has been sidelined since early 2025 with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Terrier sustained an Achilles tendon rupture last week.
Alonso hinted at possible transfer activity before the January window closes, saying, “Three days still remain, and we are so close to a decision.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
