Heidenheim attacker Jan-Niklas Beste to join Benfica

Fabrizio Romano reports that Heidenheim attacker Jan-Nilas Beste will join Portuguese side Benfica after helping the Bundesliga side qualify for Europe.

It is said that Beste is already in Lisbon to undergo his medical ahead of joining Roger Schmidt’s side and will sign a five-year contract. The 25-year-old is expected to play as a left-back under the German head coach. 

The fee for Beste is said to be around €10m, according to Sky Germany, and it will make Beste the Heidenheim’s record departure beating Tim Kleindienst who left earlier this summer for €7m. 

In his sole season of Bundesliga football, Beste played a key role in helping Heidenheim qualify for the UEFA Conference League in their first-ever season of Bundesliga football. The 25-year-old ended with eight goals and 11 assists as they finished eighth. 

For Heidenheim, this will be a big blow creatively. The departures of all three of their key attacking players last season, Beste, Kleindienst and Eren Dinkci (expiry of loan) mean that they will have big holes to fill this summer. Already the team have signed Mikkel Kaufmann (Union Berlin), Paul Wanner (Bayern Munich, loan) and Leo Scienza (Ulm). 

GGFN | Jack Meenan