Niklas Beste: Who is the former Heidenheim maestro back in the Bundesliga with Freiburg?
Niklas Beste was the driving force behind the attacking exploits of Bundesliga surprise package Heidenheim in 2023/24, and is now back in the Bundesliga with Freiburg. bundesliga.com looks into the forward's rise...
Data correct as of 31 January 2025
Age: 25 (born 4 January 1999)
Club: Freiburg
Position: Left winger
Country: Germany (30 youth caps, seven goals)
Key stats
Beste is a product of the footballing hotbed of Germany's Ruhr district, having entered the youth ranks of local giants Borussia Dortmund at the age of eight. The Hamm native played through all the age grades at Dortmund and was rated as a promising youth product, playing for Germany's U16 and U18s, as well as the Black-Yellows' UEFA Youth League team. After being promoted to the BVB senior squad, he made his one and only appearance for the club in a DFB Cup tie at Rielasingen-Arlen, aged 18.
Playing as a left-back as a youngster, Beste's prospects of breaking into the Dortmund first team were blocked by Raphaël Guerreiro. He moved to Werder Bremen in 2018/19, but after failing to progress beyond the reserve side there, was sent on loan to Dutch outfit Emmen, for whom he made six appearances before a serious knee injury curtailed his 2019/20 campaign in the autumn.
Having recovered, Beste was sent on loan to Jahn Regensburg in Bundesliga 2 for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. Deployed in a more advanced role either on the left or the right, he scored six goals across the two campaigns as the club retained their second-division status.
Heidenheim then signed Beste after finishing sixth in Bundesliga 2 under long-serving coach Frank Schmidt, and the rest is German football history! An astonishing 12 goals and 13 assists saw Beste fire Heidenheim to a fairy-tale promotion, completing a rise from the regional leagues to the Bundesliga for the very first time.
Bushy-bearded Beste was very much a focus of Heidenheim's bold approach as Bundesliga new boys in 2023/24. A free-kick rifled into the net from a tight angle against Hoffenheim on Matchday 2 in August saw him not only score his club's first-ever top-flight goal, but also earn the honour of Bundesliga Goal of the Month.
He slotted in another direct free-kick against Union Berlin just weeks later, while a goal at Bayern Munich and a delightful chip in the return encounter against Union in February were further personal highlights. Beste closed out the season with eight goals and 11 assists as Heidenheim defied expectations and earned a spot in the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League. Only Bayer Leverkusen's Alejandro Grimaldo (13) contributed more Bundesliga assists in 2023/24.
Watch: Beste's best Bundesliga goals so far
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Having shown his set-piece mastery and technical accomplishment in the top flight, Beste received a first Germany call-up in March 2024 for friendly matches against France and the Netherlands. Injury denied him his first caps but, having signed for Freiburg after a six-month stint with Portuguese heavyweights Benfica, Beste will be looking to recapture his best(e) form during the second half of 2024/25.
Plays a bit like: Vincenzo Grifo
Parallels between Heidenheim and Beste's new club Freiburg abound. Both are small clubs punching above their weight with a cohesive, plucky playing style that will suit Beste down to the ground - as will lining up alongside kindred spirit Vincenzo Grifo. Both players excel at providing key goals with set-piece expertise, while both have a knack for putting away superb strikes themselves. At 26, Beste could be seen as the long-term replacement for 31-year-old Grifo, who coincidentally also received his first call-up to his national team, Italy, at the age of 25.
Did you know?
Beste's trademark beard was a product of the Covid-19 pandemic. He told Bremen fan website Deich Stube: "I was playing in the Netherlands at the time and the season got cancelled. I was sat at home for three to four months with no training, and it just grew. The hairdressers were closed and nobody noticed it." Beste has also disputed rumours he came close to shaving the beard as part of Heidenheim's promotion celebrations in summer 2023, saying he could not have done that as it was shortly before his wedding.
What they're saying
When the stars allign, you have to act. This was one of those moments. Niklas is a very versatile player and knows the Bundesliga. He's proven himself and now we need to integrate him into how we do things here. We're really looking forward to it." - Freiburg sporting director Klemens Hartenbach upon Beste's transfer on 31 January 2025
"Niklas is an incredibly important player for us, as he continually puts in good performances with his great attitude." - Heidenheim boss Frank Schmidt
"I am really crossing my fingers for him, as it would be a huge thing for him and his club. I think he has deserved it, and he will serve the German national team well. He has all the virtues they need. It's a fantastic story that would be a new highlight for our club." - Heidenheim chairman Holger Sanwald prior to Beste's Germany call-up
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