By Wale Mustapha
Newcastle United are reportedly in advanced negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen to secure the signing of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface, according to German publication BILD.
The 24-year-old forward, who extended his contract with Leverkusen until 2028, has been a key figure for the Bundesliga side since joining from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise in 2023.
Despite struggling with injuries this season, Boniface has managed to score 11 goals in 27 league appearances.
Earlier in the year, Boniface was linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, but the deal fell through as they opted to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa instead.
Newcastle’s interest in Boniface is part of their plan to reinforce their attacking options, especially as their first-choice forward, Alexander Isak, continues to attract interest from various top clubs.
Isak’s potential departure in the summer has prompted the Magpies to seek a capable replacement.
Boniface played a pivotal role in Leverkusen’s domestic double last season, showcasing his ability in both league and cup competitions.
If the move goes through, he would add further depth to Newcastle’s squad as they aim to strengthen their offensive line for the upcoming season.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
