Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has returned to training with Bayer Leverkusen after a potential transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for €15 million per season was called off, reports PUNCH Sports Extra.

The Leverkusen player, who was left out of training and the squad for their UEFA Champions League match on Wednesday, was quick to share a photo of himself and some teammates in training following Thursday’s announcement.

Negotiations between Leverkusen and Al-Nassr appear to have progressed quickly, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that the deal ultimately did not meet with the approval of the Saudi Arabian team.

“Victor Boniface for Al-Nassr in a trade,” Romano posted on X.

“The Nigerian striker will not join the club. The deal was in the works but was never completed as Al Nasr did not give the go-ahead.”

If the transfer goes through, Leverkusen would receive 60 million euros, 10 million more than the 50 million they were asking for the player.

Al Nasr’s reason for not completing the deal has to do with their pursuit of Aston Villa’s John Duran, who they had their eye on before signing Boniface.

Boniface was reportedly the club’s second choice after Duran, but Villa’s initial stance did not guarantee that talks with Duran would be successful, so the club had to prioritize negotiating with the Nigerian player.

However, that all changed after new negotiations on Wednesday. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Villa have softened their stance considerably, agreeing to sell Duran to Saudi Arabia for 77 million euros in guaranteed transfer fees, plus the possibility of further transfers.

The Colombian has already agreed to a five-and-a-half-year contract and is due to travel to London on Thursday for a medical. Al Nasr are looking to complete the move quickly as the Saudi Arabian transfer window closes on January 31st instead of February 3rd when the English transfer window closes.

Boniface will probably stay at Leverkusen until the club receives another profitable offer, given the club’s willingness to sell the Nigerian, who they signed for €20 million plus options in the summer of 2023.

He was a key player in last season’s double, scoring 21 goals and providing 10 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.

He has eight goals and one assist in 15 games this season and is recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since November 2024.