In a significant setback for Nigerian football and Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has undergone knee surgery and will miss the rest of the 2025/26 season. The 25-year-old, currently on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, received the procedure on Saturday, January 10, 2026, following specialist consultations in Austria that revealed cartilage damage requiring surgical intervention.
Werder Bremen made the official announcement via their club website and statements, confirming that Boniface will be sidelined for several months due to the lengthy rehabilitation process. "Forward Victor Boniface will be unavailable to Werder Bremen for the next few months. The 25-year-old will undergo surgery on his injured knee today, Saturday (January 10th), performed by Prof. Dr. Christian Fink in Innsbruck," the club stated. Head of Professional Football at Werder Bremen, Peter Niemeyer, added: “We are happy that we now have a solution to let Victor perform a surgery. There is clarity for all parties. Due to the rehabilitation process, we no longer assume that Victor will still be available for Werder this season.”
The injury, which has plagued Boniface since December 2025, initially kept him out of Werder Bremen's final two fixtures of the calendar year. It also prevented his participation in Nigeria's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosted in Morocco, despite his inclusion in initial provisional lists. The persistent knee issue, described in some reports as cartilage damage detected after further examinations, has now culminated in this season-ending operation.
Boniface joined Werder Bremen on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025, aiming to regain form and playing time after a challenging period at his parent club. However, his stint in Bremen has been underwhelming. In 11 Bundesliga appearances this season — including two starts and nine substitute outings — he failed to score a single goal, managing only two assists. He recorded 16 shots and created seven chances but struggled with consistency amid recurring fitness concerns.
The club emphasized that the decision for surgery was a collaborative one, involving medical teams from both Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen. Importantly, the loan agreement will not be terminated early, meaning Boniface remains contractually bound to Werder until the end of the 2025/26 campaign, even though he will not feature again this term.
This development marks a disappointing chapter in Boniface's loan spell, which was anticipated to provide him with regular minutes to rebuild confidence following his impressive earlier contributions at Leverkusen. Between his arrival at Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 and the end of the 2023/24 season, Boniface scored 22 goals in 42 Bundesliga appearances, including a crucial 14 goals during the club's historic unbeaten title-winning campaign. His form earned him recognition as one of the league's emerging talents, but injuries have since disrupted his progress.
The knee problems appear to be recurring, with Boniface himself reportedly acknowledging the toll in personal statements shared on social media, hinting at having "been putting on a fake smile for almost a year" while managing pain. The surgery in Innsbruck by renowned specialist Prof. Dr. Christian Fink is expected to address the underlying cartilage issues, though recovery timelines for such procedures typically span several months, ruling out any return before the 2026/27 season commences.
For the Super Eagles, the absence is a blow to attacking options. Boniface has been a key figure in recent international setups, and his unavailability further complicates Nigeria's forward line depth amid ongoing continental competitions.
Werder Bremen, currently navigating a mid-table Bundesliga campaign, will now rely on other forwards to fill the void left by Boniface's prolonged absence. Fans and analysts have described the loan as "disastrous" in hindsight, given the minimal goal return and injury disruptions.
Boniface's representatives and the player have expressed optimism for a full recovery, with social media posts from the striker indicating the operation was successful and gratitude for support during this period. Wishes for a speedy comeback have poured in from across the football community, including Nigerian supporters hoping he returns stronger.
This injury underscores the challenges of loan moves in top European leagues, where expectations for immediate impact often clash with fitness realities. As Boniface begins rehabilitation, attention will turn to his long-term future, potentially back at Bayer Leverkusen or elsewhere, once he regains full fitness.
