Victor Boniface and Kennet Eichhorn Left Out of Leverkusen’s Europa League Squad

Bayer Leverkusen have finalized their squad for the Europa League, with four first-team players left out of Carles Martínez's selection for the club's European campaign.

Leverkusen will begin their Europa League season at home against Slovenian side NK Celje on September 16, with kick-off scheduled for 9 p.m. The squad announcement has also provided a clearer picture of which players currently sit outside Martínez's plans.

The most notable omission is Victor Boniface.

The Nigerian striker has not been included despite remaining under contract and available to the club. His absence is primarily related to his physical condition, with the 25-year-old still short of the match fitness required to compete consistently at the highest level.

Boniface's situation is particularly interesting because of the competition for places in Leverkusen's attack. Patrik Schick remains the established central option, while Martin Terrier, Moussa Diaby, Nathan Tella and Christian Kofane provide Martínez with several alternatives across the attacking positions.

Given that Boniface has not yet reached full fitness, his inclusion would also have been difficult to justify ahead of players who are currently further along physically. The decision therefore appears to be less about his long-term importance and more about his immediate readiness.

The other three omissions are Tim Oermann, Kennet Eichhorn and Jonas Hofmann.

Oermann faces a straightforward problem: competition. The defender has several established players ahead of him in a squad that includes Facundo Medina, Jarell Quansah, Loïc Badé and Edmond Tapsoba. With Martínez having plenty of options at the back, finding room for the 21-year-old was always going to be difficult.

Eichhorn's absence is less about football. The 17-year-old midfielder remains sidelined indefinitely because of a metabolic disorder, making his omission from the European squad unsurprising. His move to Leverkusen was viewed as an investment in the future, but his current health situation means there is no immediate role for him in European competition.

Hofmann, meanwhile, finds himself in a more complicated position. The experienced former Germany international has seen his prospects decline following the arrival of Moussa Diaby, with Die Werkself now possessing another high-profile option in the attacking positions.

His exclusion from the Europa League squad is another indication that the club's plans for Hofmann have changed. With interest from Saudi Arabia still reportedly alive, the omission could also make a potential departure easier to understand.

One player who did make the cut is Robert Andrich.

Following Exequiel Palacios' departure, the former captain remains an important midfield option for Martínez. His inclusion gives Leverkusen experience and defensive strength in an area where the club has lost an established player.

The final squad contains a mixture of experienced internationals, new arrivals and emerging talents. Mark Flekken and Janis Blaswich lead the goalkeeping group, while the defense has been significantly refreshed with players such as Medina, Gutiérrez and Quansah.

In midfield, Andrich joins Equi Fernández, Malik Tillman and Aleix Garcia, while the attacking group includes Diaby, Schick and Tella.

For Martínez, the selection represents an early statement about his priorities. Boniface and Hofmann remain relevant names within the wider squad, but their European absence shows that their current standing at Leverkusen is far from guaranteed.