In recent days, Bayer Leverkusen was in advanced talks with Al-Nassr regarding the sale of Victor Boniface. Both parties even agreed on a transfer fee, which was set to be around 60 million euros.
Additionally, the player had settled the terms of his personal contract. However, the Saudi club didn’t give the final approval for the deal as they were continuously in discussions with Aston Villa concerning the acquisition of Jhon Duran.
From the outset, the Colombian striker was the primary target for the Riyadh-based team, while Victor Boniface was considered a backup option. Ultimately, Al-Nassr succeeded in convincing Jhon Duran to move to the Middle East, leading to the Nigerian’s transfer deal falling through, as reported by Fabrizio Romano on social media.
The Aston Villa star will join the Saudi side for 77 million euros, with potential bonuses pushing the amount up to 90 million euros. As it stands, Victor Boniface is likely to stay with Bayer Leverkusen at least until the end of the current season.
The 11-time Nigerian international has been with the team since July 2023, having joined from the Belgian club, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, for just under 22 million euros. The 24-year-old forward contributed significantly to the German team’s success in the previous season when Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga and the German Cup.
Al-Nassr, opting to enhance their forward line, has decided on Jhon Duran instead of Victor Boniface. The Colombian will now team up with Cristiano Ronaldo to form a formidable attacking duo for the Riyadh-based squad.