Jan-Niklas Beste

Jan-Niklas Beste (born 4 January 1999) is a German professional footballer who plays as a left-back or winger for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.

Jan-Niklas Beste

Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-01-04) 4 January 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth	Hamm, Germany[1]
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s)	Left-back, winger[2]
Team information
Current team	SC Freiburg
Number	19
Youth career
	VfL Mark 1928
0000–2007	Hammer SpVg
2007–2018	Borussia Dortmund
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	Borussia Dortmund	0	(0)
2018–2022	Werder Bremen	0	(0)
2018–2022	→ Werder Bremen II	28	(2)
2019–2020	→ Emmen (loan)	6	(0)
2020–2022	→ Jahn Regensburg (loan)	42	(6)
2022–2024	1. FC Heidenheim	65	(20)
2024–2025	Benfica	13	(0)
2025–	SC Freiburg	12	(0)
International career‡
2014–2015	Germany U16	7	(0)
2015–2016	Germany U17	15	(2)
2017–2018	Germany U19	6	(3)
2018	Germany U20	2	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16 October 2018

Club career

After joining Borussia Dortmund at the age of eight, Beste made his competitive debut for the senior squad on 12 August 2017 in a 2017–18 DFB-Pokal match-up against Rielasingen-Arlen.^[3] Despite appearing for the senior squad in pre-season friendlies that summer as well, he spent the rest of the 2017–18 season on the Under-19 squad.

On 4 July 2018, Beste moved to Werder Bremen, where he also was assigned to the reserves squad for the first season with them.^[4]

On 18 June 2019, he was loaned to FC Emmen in the Netherlands for the 2019–20 season.^[5] He made his Eredivisie debut for Emmen on 24 August 2019 in a game against Willem II.^[6]

In July 2020, he again left Werder Bremen for a loan spell, joining SSV Jahn Regensburg for two seasons.^[7]

On 15 June 2022, Beste signed a three-year contract with 1. FC Heidenheim.^[8] On 26 August 2023, he scored his club's first ever goal in the Bundesliga from a free-kick in a 3–2 home defeat against Hoffenheim.^[2]

On 11 July 2024, Beste signed a five-year contract with Primeira Liga club Benfica.^[9] On 19 September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 2–1 away win over Red Star Belgrade.^[10]

In January 2025, Beste returned to Bundesliga, signing with SC Freiburg.^[11]

International career

Beste was a youth international footballer for Germany.^[12] In March 2024, he was called up for the Germany national team for the friendly matches against France and the Netherlands.^[13] However, he suffered an adductor strain during training which forced him to withdraw ahead of the aforementioned fixtures.^[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 May 2025^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Borussia Dortmund	2017–18	Bundesliga	0	0	1	0	0	0	—		1	0
Werder Bremen II	2018–19	Regionalliga Nord	28	2	—		—		—		28	2
Emmen (loan)	2019–20	Eredivisie	6	0	0	0	—		—		6	0
Jahn Regensburg (loan)	2020–21	2. Bundesliga	16	2	2	0	—		—		18	2
	2021–22	2. Bundesliga	26	4	2	1	—		—		28	5
	Total		42	6	4	1	—		—		46	7
1. FC Heidenheim	2022–23	2. Bundesliga	34	12	2	0	—		—		36	12
	2023–24	Bundesliga	31	8	1	0	—		—		32	8
	Total		65	20	3	0	—		—		68	20
Benfica	2024–25	Primeira Liga	13	0	2	2	2	0	5[c]	0	22	2
SC Freiburg	2024–25	Bundesliga	12	0	—		—		—		12	0
Career total			166	28	10	3	2	0	5	0	183	31

1. Includes DFB-Pokal, Taça de Portugal
2. Includes Taça da Liga
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League