Victor Boniface wins Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award

Ayomikun Elemikan Sports 16/05/2024

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Victor Boniface has been named the 2023/2024 Bundesliga Rookie of the Season after an excellent debut campaign with Bayer Leverkusen.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria striker helped Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title, maintaining an unbeaten record throughout the season.

Victor Boniface has been named as the 2023/24 Bundesliga Rookie of the Season (Image: Punch Newspapers)

Boniface scored 13 goals and assisted nine times in a spectacular season. Leverkusen remain undefeated in 50 games in all competitions this season.

To win the award, the 23-year-old beat the likes of Ian Maatsen, Xavi Simons, and Maximilian Beier to the award.

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The ex-Union Berlin forward hit the ground running and he was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for August, September, October, and November.

Boniface experienced a halt in his burgeoning first term in Germany when he suffered a muscle injury in January. This caused him to miss the Africa Cup of Nations held in January/February.

Boniface won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month in his first month in Germany, also winning for the next three consecutive months (Image: Daily Post Nigeria)

It was during his first few impactful games for Werkself that he was called up to the Super Eagles team for the very first time late last year.

After returning from injury, he’s been largely deployed from the bench but that hasn’t stopped his massive contributions. He keeps scoring and his off the ball performances have been applauded.

Without a doubt, Boniface contributed immensely to the success of Bayer Leverkusen. The club are pushing for a Treble as they are alive in both the DFB Cup final and the UEFA Europa League final.

Xavi Simons, Maatsen impress

Meanwhile, Xavi Simons was very instrumental to RB Leipzig’s team this season since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. He won the Rookie of the Month award in December, making his senior debut for the Netherlands also this season.

Xavi Simons won two Bundesliga Rookie of the Month awards (Image: Goal.com)

With more impressive and exciting displays over the course of the season, the 21-year-old was again named the Rookie of the Month in April.

Another nominee, Ian Maatsen joined Borussia Dortmund on loan from Chelsea in January and was named Rookie of the Month in the same month.

With his first goal for BVB coming in March, his contributions for the side has seen them reach the Champions League final. It will be a fairytale story if he eventually wins the European title against the almighty Real Madrid.