Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has explained why the club allowed Victor Boniface to leave on loan last summer, Soccernet.ng reports.
Rolfes insists the decision was made to help the Super Eagles striker regain full fitness and sharpness after a difficult spell with injuries.
The club chief made it clear that Boniface's quality has never been in doubt, pointing instead to the physical demands of top-level football as the main challenge.
“In his first season he was unbelievable, his performance in his second season was also good,” Rolfes said as per Brila.
“But in his second season he had problems with injuries and also last summer we spoke and agreed he needed more training to get in best shape again.”
The Leverkusen chief pointed to the club’s intense schedule as a major obstacle to that recovery. Playing regularly across competitions meant there was little time for proper training sessions.
“And if you are playing every three days it’s difficult because the reality is you are not training anymore with the team.
“So, we had a feeling at the end of the preseason that it’s difficult to get into the best shape here with our number of games, so we decided together that it’s best for him to go on loan to get back to this level.”
Boniface was sent to Werder Bremen in search of rhythm, minutes, and confidence. However, his time away did not go entirely as planned.
Victor Boniface: Injury setback and road to recovery
While on loan, Boniface continued to struggle with a knee problem that eventually required surgery.
“While on loan at Werder Bremen it turned out there is still some problems with his knee. Unfortunately, he did a surgery which went really well.
“Now he is on his way to get his fitness his knee is much better. It’s a good situation now, he has to build his fitness again as it was the main reason we sent him on loan.”
The Nigerian forward underwent surgery in January after picking up the injury in training. Since then, his focus has been on recovery. He returned to training in early April, starting with individual work before gradually rejoining team sessions. There is now growing hope that he could return to competitive action before the end of the season.
Despite the recent setbacks, Boniface’s impact at Bayer Leverkusen has already been significant. Since arriving in 2023, he has developed into a complete forward, combining strength, skill, and intelligent movement.
He played a key role in the club’s historic unbeaten league campaign, finishing as one of their leading scorers and delivering important goals, including in decisive matches. His fast start to life in Germany, which included multiple early braces and individual awards, showed just how quickly he adapted.
Even after injury interruptions, he has continued to influence games when fit, proving himself not just as a goalscorer but also as a creative presence who can link play and trouble defenders with his physical style.
At his best, Boniface offers a rare mix of power and technique; a striker capable of leading the line, creating chances, and delivering in big moments.
