Dodgy knee not a problem for Werder - they land Boniface!

The final hours of the June transfer window brought a move that will be talked about for a long time. Victor Boniface, the Nigerian striker who just seven months ago was on the verge of a 70,000,000 euros transfer to Al Nassr, has now, completely unexpectedly, become Werder Bremen’s new center forward. The club, which until Boniface’s arrival ranked only 12th in the Bundesliga by squad market value, agreed a one-year loan deal with Bayer Leverkusen—without any buy option. This means the “Greens” suddenly landed a top-class striker overnight, in a transfer that seems almost unreal for a lower-budget Bundesliga club.

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To recall, this past January Al Nassr offered as much as 70,000,000 for Boniface, but the deal fell through after the Saudis ultimately chose Jhon Duran instead. Just a few weeks ago, it seemed the Nigerian would end up at Milan, but medical tests revealed knee problems and the move collapsed. In the meantime, Boniface lost his starting role at Leverkusen—injuries and heavy competition pushed him aside under Xabi Alonso toward the end of last season. Still, his stats show he’s a striker of real class: 22 goals and 11 assists in 42 Bundesliga appearances.

Can't care less than Boniface - who cares about new club?

For Werder, a club that in recent years has mostly hovered between mid-table and the relegation zone, the arrival of such a forward is a rare transfer coup. Without a purchase clause, Werder gets one year of luxury—a genuine top striker—without financial risk. Fans at the Weserstadion are already dreaming: with Boniface up front, Werder might raise their level and surprise the favorites. The real question, however, is whether the Nigerian can regain his old form and stay fit throughout the season. It’s also worth noting that Boniface’s arrival instantly lifted Werder from 12th to 8th place among Bundesliga clubs in squad market value, something that could significantly shift the ambitions of Germany’s four-time champions.