Jan-Niklas Beste joins Benfica!

WELCOME, JAN-NIKLAS BESTE

Jan-Niklas Beste has joined Sport Lisboa e Benfica's professional football team. Coming from FC Heidenheim, the 25-year-old German left-back has signed a contract valid for five seasons (until 2029) with the club.

Highlighting an important step in his career, the Reds' new signing presented himself as an attack-minded left-back. "I'm a defender who presses, who goes forward to cross and shoot. Yes. Corners. Free kicks. I think I'm a very offensive defender", said Jan-Niklas Beste, in an interview with BTV, the full version of which you can read here.

The German player also revealed that the first conversation with Roger Schmidt was "very good" and that this was a factor that made his decision to join a club whose greatness he said he knew well "even easier".

INTERVIEW

CAREER

Born on January 4, 1999, in the German town of Hamm, Jan-Niklas Beste began his career at local club Hammer SpVg, where he spent just one season before joining Borussia Dortmund's youth ranks. After making a name for himself at U15, U17 and U19 level, the left-back made his first team debut on August 12, 2017: he assisted the opening goal in a 0-4 win over Rielasingen-Arlen in the first round of the German Cup.

The following season (2018/19), the left-winger moved to Werder Bremen, where he was included in the B team. With no room in the first team, the full-back spent the next three seasons on loan at Dutch side Emmen (2019/20) and German side Jahn Regensburg (2020/21 and 2021/22). Last season, his good performances in Bundesliga 2 convinced FC Heidenheim to sign him from Werder Bremen.

MESSAGE TO BENFICA FANS

As an undisputed starter, the left-winger scored 12 goals and added 13 assists in 36 games, making him an essential part of FC Heidenheim's journey to the German second division title and consequent promotion to the Bundesliga. In 2023/24, Jan-Niklas Beste confirmed his qualities on his debut among the elite of German football, adding eight goals and 14 assists in 32 games, which helped his club to 8th place and a historic qualification for the UEFA competitions: Conference League play-off.

Benfica's new signing has made 30 caps for Germany's U16, U17, U19 and U20 teams and, last March, he was called up by Julian Nagelsmann for the senior team's internationals in preparation for the 2024 European Championship, against France and the Netherlands. However, Jan-Niklas Beste suffered a muscle injury in training and didn't get the chance to make his debut for the Mannschaft.