Heidenheim’s first-ever Bundesliga season can only be described as remarkable. The German minnows were not expecting promotion last year, but finished ahead of giants like Hamburg SV and Fortuna Düsseldorf, winning the 2. Bundesliga. Life in the Bundesliga was always going to be too difficult for the small club from Baden-Württemberg — except that it isn’t.
Heidenheim sits ten points clear of the relegation zone with eight matches left, and, barring a massive collapse, they will play in the top flight again next year. They have gone toe-to-toe with some of the biggest clubs in Germany, including tying Dortmund twice and shocking VfB Stuttgart, who currently sit third in the Bundesliga.
A big reason for Heidenheim’s strong performances is their top-quality recruiting. No team in the Bundesliga spent less in transfer fees this year, while they also have the lowest wages in the league (only €10.97 million, per fbref.com). For reference: Harry Kane’s wages are more than double Heidenheim’s, while his transfer fee of €95 million is over 40 times more than what Heidenheim spent — a measly €2.3 million.
One of their transfers, in particular, has been brilliant. This summer, Heidenheim brought in a player who is faster than Alphonso Davies, has more goals than Florian Wirtz, and has attracted interest from all over Europe: Eren Dinkçi.
Dinkçi was signed from Werder Bremen on loan in the summer in a move that got very little attention. I briefly mentioned him in my early ranking of the Bundesliga transfer window, but no one quite seemed to know what he would do or where he would play.
The German youth international had previously played at striker, but upon signing he received the number 8 — typically reserved for center midfielders. However, don’t let that fool you: Dinkçi has featured on the right wing all season and has been one of the most dangerous wingers in the Bundesliga.
With a top speed of 36.41 km/h, Dinkçi is currently the fastest player in a league that includes players like Alphonso Davies, Karim Adeyemi, and Leroy Sané — all considered among the fastest players in the world. However, it’s not just his speed that makes him a threat.
Dinkçi’s opener against Hoffenheim was a great display of how well-rounded he is. He receives the ball in his own half, uses good footwork to elude two defenders, and finds the right pass. Then, he makes a perfectly timed run, accelerates, and calmly finishes into the bottom right corner.
Eren Dinkci'nin Hoffenheim maçında kendi hazırlayıp attığı en son golü pic.twitter.com/UZYKhresAW
— José (@CifuenCharcopa) February 12, 2024
Behind almost every Heidenheim result has been a strong performance from Dinkçi. His goal against Hoffenheim was enough to earn a point — the third time this season that Dinkçi has scored a crucial goal in a draw. When Heidenheim secured their first-ever Bundesliga win in September, he scored a crucial brace in a 4-2 win — against the side that loaned him out, Werder Bremen. Dinkçi didn’t celebrate, but Heidenheim fans certainly did.
Heidenheim has had reason to celebrate all season long, and they will keep celebrating this summer if the signing of Dinkçi is made permanent. It won’t be easy, however. Sky Sport News reporter Florian Plettenberg reports that his release clause sits at around €5 million, which would make him the club’s record signing. Other clubs want the Bremen loanee, too, with rumored interest ranging from Borussia Dortmund to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
There is one more recruitment battle for Dinkçi: the national team. Turkey reportedly has interest in the winger, who is eligible through his Turkish roots. However, Germany is looking thin in attack, and manager Julian Nagelsmann is not against calling up Heidenheim players, having already called up Dinkçi’s teammate Jan-Niklas Beste. Germany will also want to avoid the embarrassment of losing another player to Turkey, having recently lost the likes of Kenan Yıldız and Can Uzun to the Crescent-Stars.
For now, Dinkçi must wait. If he continues to play like he has been, Dinkçi won’t be flying under the radar for much longer.
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Main Image via FC-Heidenheim.com, other images via Bundesliga.com.
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