“Boniface: I Gave Out My Designer Clothes Before Saudi Transfer Collapsed”
Byline: IDNN Sports Desk
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has opened up about how a blockbuster move to Saudi Arabia worth a reported €45 million in wages collapsed dramatically at the last minute—after he had already packed his bags and gifted away most of his designer wardrobe.
Speaking on The Culture League podcast, the Bayer Leverkusen frontman revealed he was hours away from boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia in January to join Al-Nassr, the same club that features Cristiano Ronaldo, only for the deal to fall through unexpectedly.
“The money was a lot, so most of my designer clothes and shoes, I had already given them out to my friends at home,” Boniface said.
According to him, personal terms had been agreed, a medical had been passed, and Bayer Leverkusen had also reached terms with Al-Nassr in a deal believed to be worth €70 million overall, but a last-minute switch by the Saudi club saw them sign Jhon Durán from Aston Villa instead.
Decision Driven by Family and Finances
Boniface recounted how he had turned to family members for advice. Initially advised to stay in Europe for competitive football and the UEFA Champions League, the conversation shifted once the eye-watering figures emerged.
“My brother said, ‘Go to Italy.’ Two minutes later he called back. He said, ‘I saw the money. Are you crazy? Go to Saudi Arabia!’”
The 23-year-old also emphasized the club’s role in pushing for the deal:
“It wasn’t just about me. It’s about the club too. Bayer Leverkusen wanted the money.”
Deal Collapsed at the Final Moment
With bags packed and a hotel stay in Frankfurt arranged pending flight confirmation, Boniface said he was “praying in his room” for the deal to go through. It didn’t.
Despite the drama, the Nigerian striker went on to deliver a phenomenal season in Germany, scoring 32 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions.
He is now being strongly linked with a move to AC Milan, with multiple sources suggesting the Italian giants could make a formal bid this summer.
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