Victor Boniface looks all set to become AC Milan’s new striker, but there are some doubts about his profile to take into account.
Widespread reports claimed in the last 24 hours that Milan and Bayer Leverkusen have agreed a deal for Boniface. It will be a loan with an option to buy, coming in at a total sum of around €30m, if the buy-out is used.
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Boniface not a safe bet?
La Gazzetta dello Sport have published a rather critical article regarding the Nigerian. They recall that he had 85 minutes in total across Leverkusen’s five summer friendlies, zero in the first competitive German Cup match in 2025-26, and one on April 20 2025 against St. Pauli, his final Bundesliga game.
Boniface ‘seems anything but a ready-made solution’, especially considering the emergency the Rossoneri are facing in attack following Rafa Leao’s injury and Noah Okafor’s departure. This is due to the injuries that have often plagued his career.
One statistic is enough: in 2025, the striker played 12 games for Bayer, scoring just three goals. Yet just seven months ago, Boniface was on his way to Saudi Arabia for €70m. To be precise, to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.
“I was in a hotel in Frankfurt and was already buying gifts for my family, then everything fell through,” the player himself confirmed in a recent interview.
When he’s healthy, there is no doubting Boniface’s level. In 2023-24, his first year in Germany, he scored 21 goals in 34 games. The problem lies in the fragility of his powerful physique (he stands 1.90m tall).
The injury history is merciless: at Bodo Glimt, his first professional team in Europe, he tore his cruciate ligament twice: first in March 2019, then in November 2020.
This didn’t stop him from recovering and moving to Belgium to play for Union St. Gilloise, where in 2022-23 he exploded, also playing as a winger: 17 goals in 51 games.
Leverkusen thus brought him to one of the top five European leagues for the first time. And, as mentioned, he got off to a superb start. Boniface scored and impressed before, in January 2024, he was sidelined yet again: three months out with a serious adductor problem.
His final injury came in November 2024, a thigh problem that not only kept him out for 12 games but also affected his performance for the entire second half of the season. In short, for Milan, betting on the Nigerian would be a gamble.
He is a top striker when healthy.
If he isn’t a red flag injury wise, he wouldn’t be available for just 29 m, on a loan deal with no obligation to buy.
Financially, it’s a low risk, high reward deal for Milan. If he stays healthy, it’s a bargain. If not, he goes back to Leverkusen. But the latter option can affect Milan season, and that’s why Milan is looking to bring in one more striker besides him.
I like your understanding & feasibility of the deal. You said it all in nut shell
More to your point
Playing once per week he can be monitored and managed. By next year we know if we can rely on him for twice per week or if we need to upgrade.
Remember how often our players get injured?
Hopefully Allegri fixes this but its worrisome to tie up money in a player that is so prone to injury coming to a team that is known for players getting injured.
I mean paying about 9m in total to get him on trial for a year is perfect.
Typical Italian media roasting a non Italian player for arbitrary reasons. He also isn’t up to speed on the tactics and on field familiarity with his teammates. Must be a terrible deal conducted by cheep Americans who are clearly pocketing all the money from player sales
Why are you triggered by facts?
How was that me being triggered? Just stating facts.
I don’t understand what people are on about. Oliver, you too?
Apart, from Vlahovic, name a more ready made striker which is available in the current market. In particular, after the transfers done this summer in the EPL. Maybe you can try to snatch Girossou from Dortmund, but that’s it. We are looking for a specific profile, a big guy on top who can play with his back to goal, and there are literally not that many players of that ilk.
yeah he sucks Milan sucks we are finishing 10th
Do you ever get tired of being the fanbase’s version of herpes?
It seems that a lot of fans just read the title of the article but not the article itself.
Perhaps give him a chance before?
I think he’s a decent punt, but with the weakness of the squad, Milan still need a top-quality CF. They can’t be serious if they think that Gimenez and Boniface will score enough goals to win the Scudetto. (Maybe we should have re-signed Giroud!!!)
Target is top 4, so they are talking a chance. They have money from sales, so it works they are genius, if not it’s 9 mill. Not going to hit that hard for the accounts.
Why are you Gerryboys triggered by facts. It’s not a sci-fi novel they wrote but actual facts. And it doesn’t mean anything, it’s still a good deal anyway. Low risk high reward. If it doesn’t pan out for him, he’s gone and Milan spent 9 millions. If it does, we have ourselves a good striker for a reasonable price. Same goes if we don’t qualify for CL.
Ted bringing the little d energy to the chat
Nelli being a little triggered Nancy with his pheromones spike.
I have been a devoted supporter of AC Milan since my secondary school days, a journey that spans over 30 years. However, I sometimes find myself questioning whether everyone in this group truly shares the same passion and loyalty for the club. While fan bases are generally expected to be supportive, the tone of some comments here often suggests otherwise.
I kindly encourage us all to remain positive in our discussions and show unwavering support for our team. Boniface, for example, is an excellent signing, a talented player with great potential. Let us put aside negativity and instead rally behind our coach and players, as true fans should. Forza Milan!
This! 👍
If we are playing 2 up top with no advanced wingers, then we have to consider that Pulisic and Leao are the likely starters whenever both are fit. Boniface and Gimenez will duke it out for minutes and if Boniface can find fitness and form, he could disrupt the order. It’s a worthwhile risk at the cost.
Even if we sign him and he flops season two, he’s a big enough profile that we’ll recoup what we paid (well under his market ceiling) from Saudi.
Pulisic was supposed to be made of glass and he’s been largely fine. On the other there is RLC. Could go either way, let’s see.
I guess he’s better than both Vlahovic and Hojglund, IF he stays fully fit, of course.
Well, FORZA, Boni, welcome on board!
The only Nigeria worth buying his oshimen, this Boniface is not going to workout, i said same for chukwueze nobody believed me, hoijlund would have been far better
Boniface is fine GDS have been praising nobodies signed by Inter but are critical of a striker who has performed VERY well in the last couple of seasons. If you listen to them then you’re just as blind to not see the usual smear campaign. Hojlund himself is a massive risk. Also we don’t need a mercenary like Osimhen.
Stay tuned for more ridiculous trolling by the Italian media. Sorry Gazzetta, most of the current crop of Italian strikers are horrible. Milan didn’t have much choice fellas!
Actually Milan could bring Jo David for only 15m signing bonus + salary 6m. But in the end, juve move more faster than is coz Tare still negotiating with Milan at that moment.
I think this is good gamble than try to buy hojlund / vlahovic. His goals rate more significant than the 2 clowns