From the archive
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At the end of the year, we’re taking some of our interview highlights from 2024 out of the archive. We spoke to Jan-Niklas Beste live on the Twitch stream on Deadline Day in August.
Former Heidenheimer Jan-Niklas Beste spoke about his transfer from the Bundesliga to Benfica Lisbon in Transfermarkt’s Deadline Day stream. The 25-year-old became FCH’s new record departure with a fixed fee of 8 million euros and is currently recovering from a muscle injury. “I think I’ll be fit again after the international break at the latest,” said Beste. In his rehab training everything is going “according to plan”.
“Everything went relatively quickly in the end,” the left-footer gave an insight into the process of his transfer. “It actually happened overnight and happened relatively quickly.” In Lisbon he found a new culture and mentality with greater media hype. “It’s completely different,” says Beste. The professional signed a contract with Benfica until 2029, and the transfer fee for him can rise to up to 10 million euros thanks to bonus payments.
Best said about his choice of Benfica: “First of all, I had great conversations with the coach (Roger Schmidt; editor). That is of course an advantage that it is a German coach. He showed me what he wanted to do with me and what he saw in me. I didn’t think long. This is a world club. If you have such an opportunity, it’s clear that you want to take advantage of it.” As a result of the average start to the season, Schmidt has now been on leave. Beste, who gave the interview last Friday, now had to do without his supporter.
“When it was discussed that the club was interested, I said: If everything fits, I definitely want to do it.” After discussions with the coach and sports director, he finally consulted with his family. “This is a slightly different step than within Germany, you go a little further away,” explains Beste.
Benfica purchase Best could have imagined staying at Heidenheim
1. FC Heidenheim, who brought him into the window for the Benfica transfer, still plays a big role in his thoughts. He has followed his former club’s games so far this season. “I have a lot to thank the club for. I know that. In the two years I was there, we achieved so much together that you can’t just say: I’m changing clubs and I don’t want to have anything to do with it anymore. Heidenheim will always be inside me. We are still in touch.” Congratulations went out after successfully qualifying for the league phase of the Conference League.
“I said in a few interviews last year: I’m open to everything. I could definitely have imagined staying. I also communicated that openly. Then the offer fluttered in. Then as a player you think: Maybe it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – maybe not. But you have to take a chance like this. I told the club that. The communication was really great. They discussed it openly and the club completely understood it. So we parted on good terms. That is very important.” Beste would not have made his transfer decision for many clubs.