Borussia sign Tim Kleindienst from 1. FC Heidenheim

Borussia have completed the signing of Tim Kleindienst from 1. FC Heidenheim. The 28-year-old attacker has signed a contract until 30th June 2028. Both clubs have agreed that the transfer fee will remain undisclosed.

“Tim is a great guy and has a lot of different attributes as a centre forward,” said Roland Virkus, Borussia’s managing director for sport. “He’s dangerous in front of goal, a hard worker and someone who helps motivate his teammates. He can hold the ball up as a target man, but also run in behind at pace.” Tim Kleindienst commented: “It’s a big chance for me personally to play at such a big club. I’m massively looking forward to my time here. I hope that I can help Borussia be successful again next season.”

Kleindienst came through the youth academy at Energie Cottbus. He made his professional debut whilst at the club in the second division on 14th December 2013 away to Fortuna Düsseldorf (3-1 defeat). Kleindienst became a key player in the 2014/15 season and scored 13 goals in 35 third-division games. That was followed by a move to SC Freiburg, for whom he played seven times for in the 2. Bundesliga without scoring. The 1.94m tall striker joined Heidenheim on a season-long loan in 2016/17, scoring seven goals in 27 second-division outings.

Kleindienst returned to SC Freiburg ahead of the 2017/18 season and made 31 appearances over the next two years, including 26 in the Bundesliga, scoring twice. Shortly before the end of the 2019 summer transfer window, he rejoined Heidenheim, and scored 16 goals in 27 second division and two promotion play-off matches. The Jüterbog-born man then signed for Belgian top-tier side KAA Gent in summer 2020, making 23 appearances in the first half of the season, netting three times.

His third spell at Heidenheim began in January 2021. Initially a loan move, Kleindienst went on to sign permanently in the summer of that year. In the following two-and-a-half years, he went on to play a crucial role in the club’s first-ever Bundesliga promotion with 46 goals in 77 second-tier games. In FCH’s maiden top-flight campaign, he contributed 12 goals in 33 league games, as well as two in two DFB-Pokal outings.