Official: Beste switches to Benfica

Portuguese league runners up confirmed the rumored purchase of German attacker Jan-Niklas Beste late yesterday evening. The 25-year-old will play Champions' League football under German trainer Roger Schmidt. Beste also joins former Mainz professional Leandro Barreiro, whose rumored move to "As Águias" was also recently confirmed.

Sky Germany reported that Heidenheim have pocketed approximately €8 million from the sale of their leading goal-scorer; a base-fee that can rise as high as €10 million with bonuses. Beste scored eight goals and recorded 13 assists in his debut top flight season last year. His breakout performances earned him a call-up to the German national team in March.

"When doors open and you perhaps see this as a unique opportunity in your life, then you must past through them," Beste remarked in an interview published in the Monday print edition of Germany's Kicker Magazine, "And then you have to accept that." 

Heidenheim - who will represent Germany internationally in the UEFA Europa Conference League this coming autumn - have lost their three leading scorers from the 2023/24 campaign. Bremen loanee Eren Dinkçi signed with Freiburg while lead-striker Tim Kleindienst moved to Gladbach. The Albogen club have brought in Mikkel Kaufmann, Leonardo Scienza, and Sirlford Conteh as reinforcements.