Victor Boniface has made an instant impact at Werder Bremen, with head coach Horst Steffen hailing the Nigerian striker after his sparkling debut in the 4-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend.
The 24-year-old, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, came off the bench late in the game and set up Justin Njinmah to seal a dominant win.
“He (Boniface) can continue, and we can continue to be happy. We’re glad he’s here and that he has already made his mark,” Steffen said after the match.
Boniface’s move to Bremen was completed on transfer deadline day, ending a frustrating summer in which his proposed switch to AC Milan collapsed due to medical concerns. With Leverkusen ready to part ways after an injury-hit season, Bremen took a chance on him — and it already looks like a smart gamble.
His cameo against Gladbach injected fresh energy into a Bremen side under pressure following a poor start to the campaign. They had suffered an early DFB Cup exit and lost their Bundesliga opener 4-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt before drawing 3-3 against Leverkusen. Saturday’s emphatic win pushed them up to ninth in the table and lifted the mood around the club.
“The atmosphere is great, and I want us to carry it forward,” Steffen added. “But we must work hard against Freiburg to keep it going.”
The victory had a strong Nigerian presence. Full-back Felix Agu played the entire match, while Njinmah — a German striker eligible to represent Nigeria — struck the final blow after Boniface’s assist.
For Boniface, who was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Season in 2023, Bremen offers a fresh start after setbacks at Leverkusen. Ironically, Xabi Alonso — the coach who had moved him down the pecking order — was sacked just three games into the season.
Now, Boniface looks ready to remind everyone of his quality — and Bremen may just be the perfect stage