I Packed My Bag” – Victor Boniface Shares Story of Failed €70m Move to Al Nassr
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has revealed how close he was to joining Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in a €70 million transfer – even packing his bags and giving away his clothes before the move collapsed at the last minute.
The 24-year-old Bayer Leverkusen forward spoke about the failed transfer on The Culture League podcast. He explained that everything was ready: the clubs had agreed, he had accepted the salary, and he was already on his way to catch the flight.
“I was really ready to go,” Boniface said. “We left Cologne and drove to Frankfurt. I was in the hotel, praying the deal would go through. But it didn’t happen.”
He Gave Away His Clothes
Boniface was so sure the move would happen that he gave away most of his designer clothes and shoes to friends.
He also shared how difficult the decision was. At the time, he had offers from both Al Nassr and a top club in Italy. He talked to his older brother, who told him to choose Italy so he could play in big competitions like the Champions League and the World Cup.
But a mutual friend suggested going to Saudi Arabia instead, mainly because of the big salary on offer. The club also wanted the transfer fee, which was said to be around €70 million.
Deal Fell Through at the Last Moment
Even though everything seemed to be in place—including a medical check and verbal agreement—Al Nassr suddenly pulled out. Instead, they chose to go after Jhon Duran from Aston Villa, in a deal worth €77 million.
Well-known journalists Fabrizio Romano and Florian Plettenberg confirmed that the Saudi club never gave final approval for Boniface’s transfer.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso also confirmed that the move fell through but said he was happy Boniface stayed.
A Missed Fortune
If the transfer had gone through, Boniface would have earned around €15 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid Nigerian footballers ever. This would have added up to around ₦80 billion over a few years—far more than his current €2 million salary at Leverkusen.
Boniface even missed a Champions League match against Sparta Prague at the time, showing how close the deal was.
Despite the disappointment, Boniface said he remained calm and professional:
“I didn’t post anything. I just called my family and stayed focused. Football is full of rumours—you have to stay ready.”
Now, Boniface is back with Leverkusen and has scored 11 goals so far this season. Big clubs in Europe are still keeping an eye on him for future transfers.
