Bundesliga
“I hadn’t signed, but I was playing games”: Boniface on his unorthodox start in Europe
By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria international and Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface has shared remarkable details about the early days of his European football journey, revealing that he once played professional league matches without signing a contract—just to prove he belonged.
Boniface, who starred in Leverkusen’s historic 2023–2024 Bundesliga-winning season, recalled his unconventional start during an appearance on The Culture League podcast. His first stint abroad came in 2018 with Lefke T.S.K., a club in the KTFF Süper Lig of Northern Cyprus, while he was still registered with Nigerian grassroots side Real Sapphire.
“My first time travelling abroad, I went to Northern Cyprus,” Boniface said. “The story is long because when I got there, I found out they’re not under FIFA—they operate independently.”
Northern Cyprus is governed by the Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) and remains unrecognized by FIFA, placing it outside the international football framework.
Despite being on trial and not officially signed, Boniface said he was immediately thrown into league action by the club.
“I was on trial, I hadn’t signed yet, but I was already playing in league matches,” he said. “Before I went, my agent told me I had to take a corner kick and then go and head it in myself—this is not a joke!”
Boniface would later secure his first professional contract with Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, marking the beginning of a steady rise through European football that eventually led to his breakout in Germany with Leverkusen.
The 23-year-old’s story adds another chapter to the many unlikely paths African players have taken en route to top-tier European football.
