Werder Bremen seal blockbuster deal for Juventus winger Samuel Mbangula
Werder Bremen have secured a major coup by agreeing a deal to sign Belgian U21 international Samuel Mbangula from Juventus.
The 24-year-old, who played a pivotal role in Leverkusen's historic Bundesliga and DFB Cup double in the 2023-24 season, reaffirmed his commitment to the German champions.
Boniface was on the verge of a blockbuster move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in January 2025, with a reported transfer fee of around 70 million euros agreed upon.
However, Al-Nassr opted to sign Aston Villa's Jhon Duran instead, leaving Boniface to refocus on Leverkusen. The failed transfer sparked concerns about his role, especially after injuries limited him to eight goals in 19 Bundesliga appearances last season.
Speaking to Bild's Philipp Arens, Boniface dismissed any doubts about his dedication. "Absolutely, my future is here. From my side, it's 100% clear that I'm staying,' he said. "I still have three years on my contract, and I want to win titles with Bayer.'
Under Xabi Alonso in the 2023-24 season, Leverkusen enjoyed an unbeaten Bundesliga campaign, with Boniface contributing 14 goals and eight assists in 18 league starts. Despite losing his starting spot to Patrik Schick after a two-month injury layoff in 2024, Boniface remains a fan favorite and a key figure in the squad.
Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes praised his return to training after the collapsed Al-Nassr move, stating, "Victor is still our player. We're thrilled he's back training with us.'
With Ten Hag now at the helm, having replaced Alonso, who moved to Real Madrid, Leverkusen are banking on Boniface's physicality and goal-scoring prowess to challenge Bayern Munich's dominance.
Boniface's decision to stay comes amid interest from AC Milan and several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea, as reported by Soccernet NG. However, the striker has voiced a preference for remaining in Germany or potentially moving to Spain in the future, ruling out an immediate Premier League switch.
As Leverkusen gear up for their title defence and a strong UEFA Champions League campaign, Boniface's commitment provides a major boost. "I just want to stay fit, keep playing, and keep improving,' he told Sportsboom.com. "The fans have been incredible, and I owe it to them to perform at my best.'
With Ten Hag's vision and Boniface's hunger, Leverkusen are poised to remain a force in European football.