Boniface's Struggles at Leverkusen Continue

Victor Boniface's bright start at Bayer Leverkusen seems to have hit a snag just weeks into the new season. The Nigerian striker has only made one substitute appearance so far. He has turned to social media for comfort, posting a message on Wednesday that said, “Be happy,” according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

The 25-year-old started the season with high hopes after a solid preseason under new coach Carles Martinez. He scored three goals in friendly matches against Baumberg and Newcastle. He also impressed in a 3-1 win over Kickers Offenbach, where he assisted two goals after coming off the bench at half-time.

This positive form came after tough seasons in 2024/25 and 2025/26. During that time, he dealt with knee problems, two failed transfers to Al-Nassr and AC Milan, and a loan at Werder Bremen where he could not score in 11 games. His market value dropped sharply from €45m to just €5m.

Despite a good preseason, Boniface has only played once this season. He provided an assist in Leverkusen's 3-2 loss to Elversberg on the opening day. He missed Saturday's 2-2 draw with Augsburg due to fitness issues. He was also left out of Leverkusen's Europa League squad, missing the match against NK Celje.

Martinez spoke earlier this month about Boniface's situation. He said Boniface was still working on getting back to full fitness when the squads were chosen. “Two months ago, when we started our preparations, this question was not to be expected. He was not ready, he was in pain, his knee was not doing so well, and physically he was very far behind,” the coach explained.

“But the good thing is that his knee is responding better. There are still occasional minor issues, but it is much, much better. Because such a talent deserves a better year for him, and not just this year, but throughout his career.”

Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes also addressed rumors about signing free agent Karim Benzema after his contract with Al-Hilal ended. He stated that the club is happy with their current attackers. “Our squad is complete,” Rolfes said. “The club can rely on Patrik Schick, Christian Kofane and Victor Boniface in attack.”

Schick and Kofane have both started the season strong, each scoring four goals in four matches. This puts Boniface lower in the lineup and tightens his chances to return to the starting eleven.

In light of all this, Boniface deleted all posts from his Instagram last week. He shared a heartfelt message on his Instagram Story, thanking God for standing by him during tough times. He wrote, “Dear God, I have no idea what is happening in my life right now, but I just want to say thank you for being with me in my highs and my lows. My life has not always been easy, but one thing I know: You have never left my side. You are my everything.”

This post drew emotional reactions from fans. Supporters flooded his Instagram page to encourage him and remind him of the challenges he has overcome in his career. A fan, @r6elitemanagement, praised Boniface as “a fighter” and urged him to keep pushing forward. “Keep fighting, Victor. We love you, we believe in you, and we are your number-one fans,” the fan wrote.

Another fan, @Chima.henry, highlighted Boniface's struggles with serious knee injuries and multiple surgeries. He stressed that professional footballers need mental strength to regain fitness after such setbacks. He wrote, “All he needs now is words of encouragement and prayers cos it’s not easy. I pray he comes out of this.”

@AndersonJnr sympathized with Boniface over his injuries and setbacks. He expressed hope that Boniface would soon recover. “It’s a cruel world bro… we understand all the setbacks and injuries, and we pray he gets back on his feet,” the comment read.

Boniface has not explained why he deleted his posts or if the message was related to his club situation. His latest post on Wednesday morning, telling followers to “be happy,” has not provided much clarity.

With his contract at the BayArena lasting until 2028 and Schick and Kofane doing well, Boniface faces pressure to earn his spot in Martinez’s plans. If he does not, he may need to look for regular playing time in the January transfer window. This was already rumored when Hannover showed interest in him over the summer.