Leverkusen backs Boniface to rediscover touch
Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has backed Victor Boniface to return to his best form after the striker underwent knee surgery.
Boniface led the Leverkusen attack in 2023-2024, when it won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal under Xabi Alonso, before losing the Europa League final.
The 25 year-old scored 14 goals and provided eight assists in 23 league games as Leverkusen went on to win the title; among Leverkusen players, only Alejandro Grimaldo directly contributed to more goals.
In 2023-2024, among players to score more than twice, only Serhou Guirassy, Harry Kane and Benjamin Sesko had a better minutes-per-goal average than Boniface in the Bundesliga.
However, the Nigeria international has played just 30 league games over the past two seasons after struggling with injury.
Boniface spent the 2025-2026 season on loan with Werder Bremen, but missed the second half of the campaign as he recovered from a knee injury.
However, after undergoing surgery to fix the injury, Rolfes believes there is reason to be optimistic about Boniface's return.
"The result of the surgery gave him encouragement," Rolfes said in an interview with Kicker.
"I have a good feeling that he is motivated to get back into shape.
"It’s about him helping himself, and us helping him to get back into good shape. Then we'll see."
Leverkusen finished sixth in the Bundesliga this season, securing only a Europa League spot as it ended three points off the Champions League places.
The club has already made a key change heading into next season, replacing coach Kasper Hjulmand with Carles Martinez.
