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January 28th started out like any other for football fans, with reactions trailing the AFCON 2025 draws, all oblivious to the transfer news that would eventually set the Nigerian social media space into a whirlwind of opinions.
The report that Bayer Leverkusen and Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface had reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Saudi’s AlNassr FC in a deal that could see the 24-year-old receiving €15m (over 25bn Naira) per season took many by surprise.
Boniface had been integral to Leverkusen’s remarkable 2023-24 campaign, where the German outfit secured a domestic double and narrowly missed out on a treble after losing 3-0 to Atalanta in the Europa League final – an Italian victory masterminded by another Nigerian – Ademola Lookman.
How a player who is at the prime of his career and finished his first season at Leverkusen as the team’s top scorer suddenly developed the urge to journey to the middle east was a bit of a head scratcher for many Nigerians and revived the age-old debate of what drives footballers more – trophies or money?
Odion Ighalo, a former Super Eagles striker, and one who has tasted the broth at both ends after he left mainstream Europe to the Saudi Pro league in 2021 when he joined Al Shabbab, responds in 11 words:
“At the end of the day it’s all about the money.”
His remarks reflect the ephemeral nature of football, where securing long-term financial stability seem to outweigh the pursuit of trophies. At the time, Ighalo’s take-home pay exceeded €150,000, further validating his perspective.
The reality is that a large percentage of footballers come from backgrounds where their good fortunes on and off the pitch directly impacts to the overall well-being of their families.
Football remains a powerful tool for overcoming poverty, and by a stroke of design Nigeria continue to produce exceptionally gifted players, many of whom have gone on to record success across various European Leagues and have been able to not only secure their own future but also elevate the lives of those around them.
Players like Samuel Chukwueze, who made a switch from Villarreal to Italian giants’ AC Milan with an annual net salary in the region of €5m according to Football Italia, and Victor Osimhen, whose salary rose to €125,000 per week after his summer loan move from Napoli to Galatasaray, are prime examples.
For many players, a rise in weekly wages from €30,000 to €300,000 is a no-brainer even if the club dangling the financial- carrot is located in outer space.
More high-profile names have recently embraced the Saudi Pro League, with former Real Madrid and Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo leading the charge. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner currently tops the list of the highest-earning footballers in the world.
While winning trophies often enhances a player’s legacy within the game, the financial rewards attached to playing football are essential. That said, it’s important to reiterate that football is a job, which means the first goal is to earn as much you can while doing it. If in the process you are fortunate to win major trophies and attain global fame, that’s a happy incentive.
Boniface’s journey to Europe began in 2019, and even though the transfer to Al Nassr fell through after just under 24 hours of speculation, Nigerians couldn’t help but fantasise about the €15m salary figure bandied about, and also the possibility of the barracks brought up playing alongside one of the greatest goal scorers of all time. He has since returned to training with Leverkusen, and true to his quality, he scored the opener in their 3-1 victory against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. It was, if nothing else, a mild reminder to the Bay Arena faithful of his continuous loyalty to the team.
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