Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has taken the first step towards reviving his career after becoming the first Bayer Leverkusen player to report for preseason training ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The Bundesliga club welcomed the Nigerian forward back with a light-hearted social media post, celebrating his early arrival with the caption: “The award for the first player to return to training goes to…”
While the message drew smiles from fans, it also signalled something much bigger a determined Boniface eager to put a frustrating season behind him and fight his way back into Bayer Leverkusen’s plans, moments like these often reveal a player’s mindset before the goals begin to arrive.
Boniface returns to Bayer Leverkusen following a challenging loan spell at Werder Bremen that failed to deliver the fresh beginning many had expected. The Nigerian striker managed 11 appearances without finding the back of the net, while a serious knee injury suffered during the campaign forced him to undergo surgery in December, bringing another setback in what proved to be a frustrating year. For a player who played a key role in Bayer Leverkusen’s unforgettable unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning campaign just two seasons ago, the decline was both unexpected and difficult. However, preseason offers Boniface the opportunity to write a different story.
The past year has tested Boniface in more ways than one. Potential moves to European giants AC Milan and Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr failed to materialise after concerns surrounding his fitness and medical evaluations. Instead of taking the next major step in his career, the Super Eagles striker found himself battling injuries, inconsistent form and uncertainty over his future.
Yet despite the setbacks, Bayer Leverkusen have continued to show faith in the Nigerian international. With his contract running until 2028, the club believes Boniface still possesses the qualities that once made him one of the Bundesliga’s most feared forwards.
Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, has openly addressed the challenge facing Boniface ahead of the new season. According to Rolfes, the striker’s knee has recovered well following surgery, but improving his overall conditioning remains the club’s immediate objective.
“The knee looks pretty good today. But the weight is a bit of his weak spot. It’s our goal to get him back in top form,” Rolfes explained.
Those comments underline the importance of this preseason. For Boniface, every training session presents an opportunity to convince the coaching staff that he is physically ready to compete for a regular place in the squad once again.
Bayer Leverkusen enter the new campaign with renewed ambition after finishing sixth in the Bundesliga last season, a position that secured qualification for the UEFA Europa League. With several competitions to navigate, squad depth will be essential, giving Boniface a genuine chance to reclaim his place if he impresses during preseason. Competition for attacking positions remains fierce, but the Nigerian forward knows exactly what he is capable of when fully fit. His explosive pace, strength, movement and finishing ability were major reasons behind Leverkusen’s historic domestic success, and the club hopes those qualities can return.
The striker recently described the past year as a “crazy season,” a phrase that accurately captures the mixture of injuries, transfer speculation and lost momentum that disrupted his progress. His decision to return to preseason ahead of his teammates suggests a player determined to change that narrative. Sometimes, rebuilding a career starts long before the first competitive match, it begins with showing up early, working harder and embracing the opportunity to start again. Boniface appears ready to do exactly that.
Victor Boniface’s early return to Bayer Leverkusen may seem like a small preseason headline, but it carries a much deeper message. After one of the toughest periods of his professional career, the Super Eagles striker is choosing action over excuses. The road back will require patience, consistency and peak physical fitness, but the talent that once made Boniface one of Europe’s most exciting forwards has never disappeared. If he can stay healthy and rediscover his sharpness, the coming season could mark the beginning of a remarkable comeback story.
