Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface will remain with the German side after a potential transfer to Saudi Pro League giants Al Nassr fell through. The 24-year-old forward was on the verge of joining the Riyadh-based club, with a €60 million agreement reached between Leverkusen and Al Nassr and personal terms already sorted.
However, despite the initial deal being in place, Al Nassr ultimately decided to pursue a different target, settling on Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran instead. The Saudi club agreed to a €77 million transfer fee for the Colombian striker, who is expected to join in the coming days.
Boniface, who had been excited about the prospect of playing in Saudi Arabia, now looks to continue his successful stint at Leverkusen. After an impressive run before his injury, the Nigerian forward will be hoping to pick up where he left off as he seeks to contribute to the club’s campaign in the Bundesliga and European competitions.
In a related development, Al Nassr’s decision to prioritize Duran over Boniface means the Nigerian striker will not be making the move to the Saudi club, which had been a major talking point in the transfer window. Boniface’s future at Leverkusen seems secure for now as the club continues its focus on achieving success both domestically and in Europe.
Meanwhile, Al Nassr’s pursuit of additional reinforcements continues with rumors circulating about the future of their star man, Sadio Mane. Despite recent statements from the Senegalese forward emphasizing his commitment to the club’s ambitions, ongoing links with Turkish side Galatasaray and Italy’s Inter Milan suggest Mane’s future could still be in flux.
