In last season’s Europa League campaign, the powerful striker scored two goals for Saint-Gilloise in the two quarter-final games against the Werkself. In front of a full house at the BayArena, Boniface put the Belgian side ahead in the 1-1 draw.
"Victor Boniface has been on our radar for some time," said the Leverkusen sporting managing director Simon Rolfes, "His performance against us absolutely confirmed our positive assessment. Victor is a very commanding and difficult to handle centre forward who will be a challenge for every defender with his physicality. In addition, he is also quick and has good technique," said Rolfes. "Over the long term, we now have a strong and versatile striker with potential in our ranks. He will help us improve the quality of our squad for the large number of games in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and the Europa League."
For the 6'2" Boniface, the move to Leverkusen is "a special opportunity I definitely wanted to take up. I've already experienced the atmosphere here at the stadium and back then was able to assess the possibilities at this club," said Boniface who scored six goals and provided two assists in ten Europa League games with Saint-Gilloise last term. "After our talks I now know: This is a top club with a brilliant team. I'm really looking forward to playing football here and I want to play my part in the future success of Bayer 04."
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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