Soccer
17:03, 20-Feb-2019
Media report claims Zhang Yuning likely to join Beijing Sinobo Guoan
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According to a local media report, 22-year-old Chinese center forward Zhang Yuning is all set to return to club football in his home country.
Zhang is playing for the Dutch Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag and a report by local Chinese Score Sports, citing an exclusive source, mentioned that the 22-year-old footballer is likely to join the Chinese capital-based Chinese Football Association (CFA) Super League side, Beijing Sinobo Guoan ahead of the transfer deadline.
Zhang is China's most expensive Under-23 footballer with a player with a value of 1.5 million euros. He was loaned to The Hague-based Dutch side by West Brom at the end of June last year. In August, Zhang was selected for the Chinese national for the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and he helped his side move into the top 16 in the men's soccer event.
However, he was injured in the semifinal against Saudi Arabia and was out of action for a while before making a comeback in November.
He had started his football career with Hangzhou Greentown's youth academy in 2008 and was called up to the Chinese national under-17 side for the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship where he scored two goals in three matches.
Zhang Yuning of ADO Den Haag in action during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax and ADO Den Haag at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands, December 2, 2018. /VCG Photo
Zhang Yuning of ADO Den Haag in action during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax and ADO Den Haag at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands, December 2, 2018. /VCG Photo
In 2015, he found a place in the Hangzhou-based club's first team and made his debut with a goal for the club in a 1-1 draw against Wuhan Hongxing, an amateur team, in that year's Chinese FA Cup.
In July 2015, Zhang transferred to Eredivisie club Vitesse with a two-year contract and made his debut for the club in February 2016 in a 3-0 win against SC Heerenveen as a substitute.
In July 2017, Zhang was roped in by the English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion on a three-year deal but was immediately loaned to Bundesliga club Werder Bremen for two years.
On 22 June, last year, the young Chinese footballer joined ADO Den Haag before suffering a ligament tear of right ankle in August 2018 while playing for his country's U-23 team at the Asian Games.