Victor Boniface

Victor Okoh Boniface (born 23 December 2000) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Nigeria national team.

Victor Boniface

Boniface celebrating with Bodø/Glimt in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Victor Okoh Boniface
Date of birth	(2000-12-23) 23 December 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Bayer Leverkusen
Number	22
Youth career
0000–2018	Real Sapphire
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Real Sapphire
2018	→ Lefke TSK (loan)
2019–2022	Bodø/Glimt	48	(13)
2022–2023	Union SG	37	(9)
2023–	Bayer Leverkusen	42	(22)
International career‡
2023–	Nigeria	12	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 April 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Real Sapphire

In January 2018, Boniface went on loan to KTFF Süper Lig club Lefke TSK. After continuing his career here for a short time, he returned to Real Sapphire in July 2018.^[2]

Bodø/Glimt

Boniface signed for Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt on 4 March 2019.^[3] He suffered a ligament injury only two weeks after signing for Glimt, which was said to be likely to keep him on the sidelines for the duration of the 2019 season.^[4] Boniface was selected to the Nigeria U-20 squad to play the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, but had to withdraw from the squad due to injury.^[5] In September 2019 he nonetheless made his league debut for the club.^[6]

Union SG

On 8 August 2022, Boniface signed a four-year contract with Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise.^[7] Union reached the quarter-finals of the 2022–23 Europa League. Boniface scored six goals in the competition, including a brace against Union Berlin in the round of 16, finishing as the competition's joint top scorer along with Marcus Rashford.^[8]

Bayer Leverkusen

On 22 July 2023, Boniface signed for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen on a contract until 2028, and was assigned the number 22 shirt.^[9] He made his Bundesliga debut as a starter on 19 August, in a 3–2 home victory over RB Leipzig.^[10] The following week, on 26 August, he scored his first Bundesliga goals by netting a brace at the Borussia Park in a 3–0 away derby win against Borussia Mönchengladbach.^[11]

In early April 2024, Boniface recovered from an adductor injury sustained in January that year.^[12] On 11 April, he netted his first goal following his return in a 2–0 win against West Ham United in the 1st leg of the Europa League quarter-final.^[13] Four days later, he scored the opener from the penalty spot and provided an assist in a 5–0 win against Werder Bremen, helping his club to secure the Bundesliga title for the first time with five games to spare.^[14] He eventually managed to finish his first season at the club as their top scorer in the league with 14 goals, winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.^[15]

On 1 October 2024, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal, securing a 1–0 victory over AC Milan.^[16]

International career

Boniface made his debut for the Nigeria senior team on 10 September 2023, coming on in the 64th minute for Taiwo Awoniyi. He provided an assist in that match to Samuel Chukwueze.^[17]

On 29 December 2023, he was named in the Nigerian squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast.^[18] However, on 8 January 2024, Boniface sustained a muscle injury which forced him to miss the African tournament,^[19] and he was replaced by Terem Moffi.^[20]

Style of play

Boniface is known for his distinctive style of play. His playing characteristics include strengths in dribbling, finishing, and headed attempts, while his weaknesses lie in offside awareness, holding onto the ball, and defensive contribution.^[21]

He is described as a player who likes to dribble, likes to do layoffs, and likes to play long balls. These attributes contribute to his effectiveness as a forward on the field.^[22]

His background, including learning to play football in a military barracks in Nigeria, adds an interesting dimension to his journey as a footballer.

Overall, Victor Boniface's style of play is characterised by his technical abilities, goal-scoring prowess, and unique playing preferences, making him a player to watch in the world of football.^[23][24][25]

Personal life

Boniface is a Christian.^[26] Boniface enjoys making funny goal celebrations to entertain people when he scores.^[27][28]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 20 April 2025^[29]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Bodø/Glimt	2019	Eliteserien	8	1	0	0	—		—		8	1
	2020		24	6	0	0	3[b]	2	—		27	8
	2021		1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2022		15	6	5	3	10[c]	5	—		30	14
	Total		48	13	5	3	13	7	—		66	23
Union SG	2022–23	Belgian Pro League	37	9	4	2	10[b]	6	—		51	17
Bayer Leverkusen	2023–24	Bundesliga	23	14	3	2	8[b]	5	—		34	21
	2024–25		19	8	3	1	4[d]	1	1[e]	1	27	11
	Total		42	22	6	3	12	6	1	1	61	32
Career total			127	44	15	8	35	19	1	1	178	72

1. Includes Norwegian Cup, Belgian Cup, DFB-Pokal
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Four appearances and five goals in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
5. Appearance in DFL-Supercup

International

As of match played 25 March 2025^[30]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Nigeria	2023	5	0
	2024	6	0
	2025	1	0
Total		12	0

Honours

Bodø/Glimt

• Eliteserien: 2020, 2021

Bayer Leverkusen

• Bundesliga: 2023–24^[31]
• DFB-Pokal: 2023–24
• DFL-Supercup: 2024^[32]

Individual

• UEFA Europa League top scorer: 2022–23^[33]
• UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2022–23^[34]
• Bundesliga Rookie of the Month: August 2023, September 2023, October 2023, November 2023^[35]
• Bundesliga Player of the Month: August 2023^[36]
• Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2023–24^[37]
• Bundesliga Rookie of the Season: 2023–24^[38]