Victor Boniface Calls Werder Bremen Loan a ‘Crazy Season’ After Scoring Zero Goals in 11 Bundesliga Appearances

Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has broken his silence on a deeply challenging 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, describing his loan stint at Werder Bremen as a “crazy season” after failing to find the net in any of his 11 league appearances for the club.

Boniface, who joined Bremen on a temporary basis from Bayer 04 Leverkusen, was unable to replicate the electric form that had previously cemented his reputation as one of the Bundesliga’s most dangerous attackers. A combination of injuries and a prolonged goal drought restricted his influence throughout the campaign, making it one of the most testing periods of his senior career.

Werder Bremen have since confirmed they will not pursue a permanent deal for the 24-year-old, with the Nigerian set to return to parent club Bayer Leverkusen when the loan expires. German sports magazine Kicker offered a frank verdict on the situation, stating: “Boniface has no future at Werder Bremen. The striker will initially return to his parent club, Bayer Leverkusen, after an unsuccessful loan spell in which he failed to score in 11 appearances.”

Despite the difficult circumstances, Boniface took to his official X account on 16 May 2026 to express gratitude to everyone who supported him through the season. “Wow. Crazy season for me, a lot has happened. Just want to say thank you very much to fans and staff and players,” he wrote, accompanied by a post that quickly circulated across football social media.

The loan move represented a significant departure from the trajectory Boniface had been on at Leverkusen. Since arriving at the BayArena, the Nigerian international had developed into a key figure under Xabi Alonso, contributing notably during Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning season in 2023/24. His physical strength, pace, and clinical finishing had drawn comparisons to some of Europe’s elite centre-forwards, making his Bremen stint all the more surprising in its outcome.

Boniface had also dealt with injury setbacks prior to the loan move, including a serious muscular issue that disrupted his rhythm at Leverkusen. A previous surgery had already sidelined him for an extended period, and sources suggest the cumulative effect of those physical challenges continued to hamper him throughout his time in Bremen.

With the loan now concluded, attention will turn to what role Boniface occupies at Bayer Leverkusen next season. Whether Alonso’s side — or a potential new coaching staff — will factor him into first-team plans remains to be seen, though his track record at the club suggests there is still significant confidence in his long-term potential.

For the Super Eagles, Boniface’s availability and form will also be under scrutiny ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming fixtures. Head coach Eric Chelle has indicated selections for the Unity Cup will be confirmed within days, and Boniface’s name is likely to feature in discussions, form permitting. Nigeria supporters will be hoping the forward can rediscover his best football after what he himself has acknowledged was an extremely difficult year.