Niklas Beste completes Freiburg move from Benfica
Former Heidenheim winger Niklas Beste has secured a return to his homeland, inking a deal that sees him leave Portuguese club Benfica for Freiburg.
Beste left Heidenheim in the summer of 2024, riding high on an eight-goal, 13-assist campaign that propelled the Bundesliga new boys into the UEFA Europa Conference League.
However, after a difficult first half to the 2024/25 campaign in Portugal, with injury and a change of coach coming early on and limiting him to two goals and two assists in 22 appearances across all competitions, Beste has opted for a return to the German top flight with the Breisgauer.
"I'm really eager to play in the Bundesliga and it just felt right in the talks with Freiburg," Beste said after signing an undisclosed deal with the Black Forest club. "I remember the atmosphere at the Europa-Park Stadium from my last appearance and I'm looking forward to experiencing it as a Freiburg player. It's in my nature to give my all and that's what I want to do at Freiburg from day one."
Beste began his career with Borussia Dortmund's U17s and U19s and then Werder Bremen. A series of loans followed - including at Dutch side Emmen and lower-league German outfit Jahn Regensburg - but it wasn't until he made a permanent move to Jahn's then Bundesliga 2 rivals Heidenheim that he really took off, scoring 12 goals and 13 assists to help clinch the club's first-ever ticket for the Bundesliga.
A former Germany youth player, Beste's superb performances during the 2023/24 Bundesliga season earned him a maiden call-up to the senior side during the March 2024 international break, but injury forced him to withdraw from head coach Julian Nagelsmann's squad.
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"When the stars allign, you have to act. This was one of those moments," said Freiburg sporting director Klemens Hartenbach of the deal to bring in Beste, who has been assigned the No.19 shirt at his new club. "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. The work starts immediately and we're really looking forward to it."
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