Boniface to battle Xavi, Maatsen and Beier for Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award
Nigeria and Bayer Leverkusen ‘s Victor Boniface tops the list of nominees for the 2023/24 Bundesliga Rookie of the season award. Others are Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Ian Maatsen (Borussia Dortmund) and Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim).
Boniface, named the Rookie of the Month for August, September, October and November is favoured to win the award in is first season in the Bundesliga.
The Nigerian really hit the ground running after his summer move to Leverkusen from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. He scored seven goals and provided five assists in 12 Bundesliga appearances during his Rookie of the Month reign, and also made his senior debut for Nigeria in September.
Boniface kept going in December with a further three strikes and two more provisions in four league outings.
Boniface’s superb start to life in Germany then hit a major stumbling block after he picked up a muscle injury in January that sidelined him until April, meaning he also missed the Africa Cup of Nations. But the 23-year-old returned in expected fashion, scoring a goal and setting up another on his comeback.
His contributions in front of goal have been a major factor in Leverkusen winning the Bundesliga for the first time and also pushing for a treble with the addition of the DFB Cup and UEFA Europa League.
