Nigerian forward Victor Boniface’s proposed move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr has collapsed after the club opted to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran instead.
Al Nassr secured the services of the Colombian forward in a high-profile €77 million deal, including add-ons, effectively ending their pursuit of Boniface.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, discussions for Boniface had been progressing. Since Monday, a Saudi delegation has been in Germany to finalise negotiations. However, in a sudden turn of events, the Riyadh-based club shifted focus to Duran and quickly reached an agreement with Aston Villa.
The 21-year-old striker has reportedly agreed to personal terms and is set to sign a long-term contract with Al Nassr. His medical examination is scheduled for Thursday, after which he will officially join a star-studded squad featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic, Sadio Mane, and Aymeric Laporte.
Al Nassr had initially engaged in talks with Bayer Leverkusen for Boniface, with the Bundesliga champions valuing the Nigerian at approximately €50 million.
Amid the transfer speculation, Boniface had been excused from Leverkusen training earlier this week as negotiations intensified. Reports even suggested that he had undergone a medical, indicating that the deal was close to completion.
With the collapse of the transfer, Boniface is now expected to return to Bayer Leverkusen and resume training unless the club decides otherwise.
