Super Eagles striker Victor Bonifaceis on the verge of completing a high-profile move to Serie A giants AC Milan from German club Bayer Leverkusen, a transfer confirmed by specialistFabrizio Romano. Boniface's agent, Emefie Aneke Atta(also referred to as Atta Aneke), has traveled to Italy to finalize the crucial discussions with the Rossoneri, bringing the deal to its concluding stages.

The structure of the transfer involves an initial season-long loan deal. AC Milan will reportedly pay €5 million for this loan, with a subsequent option to make the transfer permanent for an additional €24 million. This would bring the total potential transfer value, should the option be triggered, to €29 million. Nigerian international Boniface has already given his approval on personal terms, and if the permanent clause is activated, he would be tied to the San Siro club until 2030. Milan's sporting director, Igli Tare,submitted the official proposal within the last 48 hours, with Leverkusen reportedly leaning towards acceptance as only final details remain.

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Boniface, aged 24, views this move as the logical next step in his career following an impressive, albeit injury-affected, stint in Germany. He joined Bayer Leverkusen in July 2023 from Union Saint-Gilloise and made an immediate impact, notably scoring against RB Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach in his first two Bundesliga appearances. His stellar performance in his debut season saw him win the Bundesliga Rookieof the Year award and play a pivotal role in Leverkusen's historic triumph, securing both the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal titles while the team remained largely unbeaten. He ended that campaign as Leverkusen’s top scorer in the league with 14 goals, accumulating 32 goals in 61 appearances across all competitions.

However, his second season at Leverkusen was marked by adductor injury setbacks, which limited his playing time. During his absence,Patrik Schick's resurgence further intensified competition for a starting spot. The recent signing of Ernest Poku by Die Werkself also signaled a potential reduction in Boniface’s future opportunities, a factor that likely contributed to his decision to seek a move.

AC Milan has been actively seeking to bolster its attacking options this summer, with Boniface emerging as the preferred choice ahead of other notable names like Rasmus Højlund and Dušan Vlahović. The Rossoneri see Boniface as an ideal fit to complement the likes of Rafael Leão and Samuel Chukwueze in their front line. ManagerMassimiliano Allegri is expected to deploy Boniface across various attacking positions, leveraging his significant power, pace, and link-up play.

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The Nigerian striker's arrival makes him the seventh Nigerian to don Milan’s famous red and black jersey, following in the footsteps of players likeAliyu Datti,Taribo West, and most recently, Samuel Chukwueze. Boniface will be aiming to emulate Chukwueze, who currently holds the record as Milan’s top-scoring Nigerian with eight goals. His medical examinations are anticipated in the coming days, with the formal sealing of the transfer imminent. While the San Siro giants' first league game of the season against Cremonese might come too soon for Boniface, he could potentially make his Milan debut against Lecce on Friday, August 29. Milan finished 8th in Serie A last season and hopes are high that Boniface can help the club challenge for the Scudetto this term.

The advancement of Boniface's transfer to AC Milan also had implications for Manchester United forward Rasmus Højlund. Højlund, who was previously linked with a move to Milan, now faces a complicated future as the Rossoneri's striker search has concluded. Despite Hojlund's stated intention to fight for his place at Manchester United, his omission from the squad for the opening Premier League gameweek against Arsenal suggests a lack of guaranteed playing time. Reports indicate that a loan move to Serie A is still a possibility for Højlund, with Napoli being a potential suitor, especially after Romelu Lukakusuffered an injury that could sideline him until December.