Official | Freiburg sign Benfica’s Jan-Niklas Beste | OneFootball

Jan-Niklas Beste’s €8m transfer to Freiburg is official. The Breisgau-based club welcomed the 26-year-old back to the Bundesliga on Friday afternoon. Beste returns to German football having fulfilled his dream to play in the Champions League with Benfica, although he was never really able to establish himself during his six-month-stint in Portugal.

Beste – called up to the German national team last spring after putting up good performance numbers at Heidenheim – had hoped to work under German trainer Roger Schmidt in the Primeira League. Schmidt’s dismissal earlier this season – combined with the fact that he earned only five starts – sparked his desire to return home.

“I’m eager to return to the Bundesliga and the discussions with Freiburg convinced me that the chemistry is right,” Beste noted in a club-released statement. “I remember the Europa-Park Stadium from my last appearance here in Freiburg as a very atmospheric place and I’m looking forward to experiencing that atmosphere in the SC jersey. It’s in my nature to always give it my all – I want to bring that to the Sport-Club from day one.”

“There are situations that arise that you shouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of,” SCF sporting director Klemens Hartenbach added. “The opportunity to bring Niklas into our group was one such possibility. Niklas is a very versatile player and is familiar with the Bundesliga. The work begins immediately and we are extremely excited about it.”

GGFN | Peter Weis