Victor Boniface in Galatasaray colours: Another meme or a hint at replacing Osimhen?

A photo of Victor Boniface in Galatasaray shirt has left fans wondering if there is more behind the image, and the timing couldn’t be more interesting with Victor Osimhen set to leave, Footynaija.com reports.

On the surface, the photo posted on the Instagram Story of the Super Eagles striker looked like another playful meme from a player who enjoys social media. But with Victor Osimhen’s loan deal at Galatasaray coming to an end this season, fans couldn’t help but wonder, was Boniface teasing something more?

The Bayer Leverkusen striker, currently valued at €45 million, per Transfermarkt, has been one of Nigeria’s most exciting forwards in Europe over the last two seasons.

His presence on the pitch speaks for itself: powerful, intelligent, aggressive in the right moments, and technical enough to adapt to any system.

If Galatasaray were to go shopping for a like-for-like replacement for Osimhen, they would be getting a player with a similar hunger for goals, one who has shown he can thrive under pressure.

Many still do not give the 24-year-old the credit he deserves. In truth, he is often left out of conversations around top young strikers, even though his numbers consistently prove otherwise.

The Nigerian international with 12 caps, who made his debut for the country in September 2023, may not have had many opportunities at international level yet, but that has not stopped him from delivering weekly for his club.

During his debut season with Leverkusen in 2023-2024, Boniface scored 21 goals and added 10 assists in 34 matches across all competitions.

That form won him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award and helped Leverkusen push for silverware.

The current season, 2024-2025, has seen him deal with some injuries, but he still managed 9 goals and 1 assist in 20 appearances by March.

Even before he joined Leverkusen, Victor Boniface shared the UEFA Europa League Golden Boot for the 2022–2023 season with Marcus Rashford, with both players scored 6 goals each in the competition.

What stands out even more is his influence whenever he plays, drawing defenders out, creating space, and scoring all sorts of goals.

He does it with a smile too, often celebrating with funny dances or trending moves, like the Nigerian TikTok-inspired celebration after his goal against Hoffenheim.

Boniface’s rise has not gone unnoticed either. Several top clubs in Europe, including some in the Premier League, have been keeping tabs on him.

His mix of raw strength, pace, and creativity makes him a unique package, and he’s now entering the phase of his career where a big move could happen at any moment. That’s why the idea of Galatasaray going after him is not entirely out of place.

They have signed star forwards before, and if they are looking to maintain their momentum after Osimhen’s exit, then Boniface might just be the right man for the job.