Julius Okorie
Saudi League side Al-Nassr, have pulled out of their proposed deal to sign Nigeria international Victor Boniface from Leverkusen.
There has been massive speculation about the Saudi club eager to have Boniface in the oil reach club and nation, but Al-Nassr has now reportedly shifted focus toward securing a deal for Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán, who is undergoing medical Thursday (today) ahead of his move to the Saudi side.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSpeculation regarding Boniface’s move to Saudi Arabia was heightened after he underwent a medical examination earlier this week. But with the new turn of event it is safe to say the proposed transfer has gone with the winds.
Bayer Leverkusen’s director, Simon Rolfes, has subsequently reaffirmed the club’s commitment to striker Victor Boniface, confirming that he will not be joining Al-Nassr and will continue his training with the German side.
Rolfes expressed his satisfaction with Boniface’s presence in the squad, stating, “There have been talks, but we are happy that he will be training with us today. I assume that he will stay.”
Since joining Leverkusen, Boniface has been a standout player, drawing interest from various clubs. Rolfes emphasized Boniface’s strong commitment to the team.
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He noted that the striker feels comfortable at the club and that his positive attitude remains unchanged.
This is encouraging news for Leverkusen, as Boniface has been an integral part of their attacking strategy. His significant contributions on the pitch suggest he will continue to be a vital player for the remainder of the season.
Aston Villa are expected to receive a fixed fee of €77 million, plus add-ons, for Durán, who has agreed to a long-term contract. Boniface has a contract with Bayer Leverkusen until the end of the 2028-2029 season.
Meanwhile, former Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac will take over as Borussia Dortmund boss until 2026, sporting director Lars Ricken confirmed on Wednesday.
The 53-year-old will replace Nuri Sahin, who was sacked last week, with Dortmund since led by interim coach Mike Tullberg. “I can confirm we have reached an agreement (with Kovac),” Ricken told DAZN after Dortmund’s 3-1 home win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. “Mike Tullberg will lead the team on Saturday (in the league against Heidenheim), before Niko takes over on Sunday.”
Kovac, who left his last job as Wolfsburg coach in March 2024, won the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt against Bayern in 2018, before taking the top job in Munich weeks after.
At Bayern, he won a league and cup double in 2018-19, but was let go by the club midway through the following season.
Known for his disciplinarian style and focus on fitness, Kovac will take over Dortmund side who have struggled since reaching last season’s Champions League final.
Dortmund sit 11th in the Bundesliga, 22 points behind leaders Bayern, and have won just one of their past eight games domestically.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
