AC Milan has abandoned its plans to sign Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface, from Bayer Leverkusen, citing the player’s failure to pass the mandatory medical evaluations.
The proposed deal, which had included a €5 million loan fee and a €24 million buy option, collapsed despite Boniface arriving in Milan within the last 48 hours.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the development on Sunday.
“AC Milan call Victor Boniface deal off as Nigerian striker did not pass the medical tests,” Romano tweeted.
“Despite verbal agreement for €5m loan fee and €24m buy clause with player in Milano in the last 48h, deal called off due to medical. Boniface, returning in Germany today.”
Reports indicate that the 24-year-old forward had undergone two anterior cruciate ligament surgeries and has struggled with recurring groin issues, affecting his playing time in recent seasons.
Milan is not the first Serie A side to express concerns over Boniface’s fitness. Earlier, Roma reportedly rejected a swap deal involving the Nigerian and Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk, citing similar medical concerns.
Boniface recently opened up about a near move to Saudi Arabian giants Al Nassr in a €70 million transfer, revealing that he had already packed his bags and even given away his clothes before the deal collapsed.
“I was really ready to go,” Boniface told The Culture League podcast. “We left Cologne and drove to Frankfurt. I was in the hotel, praying the deal would go through. But it didn’t happen.”
He Gave Away His Clothes
The striker was so certain the transfer would happen that he handed most of his designer clothes and shoes to friends.
He also discussed the difficulty of the choice. With offers from both Al Nassr and a top Italian club, his older brother advised him to pick Italy to compete in major tournaments like the Champions League and the World Cup.
However, a mutual friend encouraged him to choose Saudi Arabia due to the lucrative salary on offer.
Deal Fell Through at the Last Moment
Even with a verbal agreement and medical examination completed, Al Nassr abruptly pulled out, opting instead to pursue Jhon Duran from Aston Villa in a €77 million deal.
Well-known journalists Fabrizio Romano and Florian Plettenberg confirmed the Saudi club never gave final approval.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso also acknowledged the failed transfer but expressed satisfaction that Boniface remained at the club.
A Missed Fortune
Had the move gone through, Boniface would have earned approximately €15 million annually, ranking him among the highest-paid Nigerian footballers ever.
This would have amounted to roughly ₦80 billion over several years, a significant jump from his current €2 million salary at Leverkusen.
Boniface even missed a Champions League match against Sparta Prague while the transfer was being negotiated, underscoring how close it came to happening.
Despite the setback, Boniface stayed composed and professional. “I didn’t post anything. I just called my family and stayed focused. Football is full of rumours—you have to stay ready.”