German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen has confirmed that Nigerian striker Victor Boniface will miss the remainder of the 2025/26 season after undergoing knee surgery on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
Boniface, 25, agreed to the procedure following assessments by a knee specialist in Austria and consultations between Bremen and his parent club, Bayer Leverkusen.
Werder’s Head of Professional Football, Peter Niemeyer, said the operation was recommended by medical staff from both clubs and that, due to the expected rehabilitation process, Boniface is not expected to feature again this season.
He will be sidelined for several months as he begins recovery.
The striker travelled to Innsbruck, Austria, on January 9 for evaluation by a knee specialist and agreed to the operation on Saturday morning.
Niemeyer said the decision provides clarity for all parties and confirmed that the club’s loan agreement with Leverkusen remains in place through the end of the season.
Boniface, on loan from Leverkusen since September 2025, made 11 Bundesliga appearances for Bremen this season, contributing two assists before the knee problem curtailed his campaign.
He had been sidelined since early December due to the lingering issue.
The Nigerian forward’s stint at Bremen followed a successful period at Leverkusen, where he was a key contributor to the club’s unbeaten 2023/24 Bundesliga title run, scoring 21 goals and providing nine assists in 34 league games.
Persistent fitness issues have hampered his recent seasons, and he was ruled out of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations earlier this season due to the same knee trouble.
Boniface’s long-standing knee problems have previously affected transfer plans, including a proposed move to AC Milan in 2025 that fell through after concerns arose during his medical examination.
READ ALSO: Nigerian striker Boniface completes Bremen move after Leverkusen exit
Sharing his personal feelings on X on the day of the surgery, Boniface wrote:
“Been putting fake smile for almost a year. But God know why all this is happening. Grateful to God.”
About an hour later, he posted again, signaling a successful operation:
“Bbl done and dusted. Omo if he reach ur turn make depression wound you.”
As Boniface begins rehabilitation, both Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen will monitor his progress with an eye toward the 2026/27 campaign, though no specific recovery timeline has been disclosed.