A Shanghai Shenhua national team player may be on his way out! Reports suggest tensions with the head coach, and after recording zero appearances this season, he is now linked with a move to Dalian Yingbo.

This season, Shanghai Shenhua once again fell short at the final hurdle in their title chase. Although they secured a 3–1 away victory over Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, Shanghai Port also won their match, leaving Shenhua to finish as runners-up for the 10th time in league history.

With the season coming to an end, several players are expected to leave the club. Veterans like Yu Hanchao are retiring, while some national-team-level players are also likely to depart — including Dai Weijun, who has struggled to earn playing time since joining the club.

Dai transferred to Shenhua from Shenzhen in the summer of 2023. He quickly became a regular and helped the team win the FA Cup. However, after Slutsky took over, Dai gradually lost his place and was eventually loaned to Shenzhen Xinpengcheng.

Returning to Shenhua this season, Dai suffered a major setback in a preseason match — a torn ACL in his left knee that was initially expected to sideline him for nine months. Fortunately, he recovered faster than expected and rejoined team training after only half a year.

Still, despite returning to full training, Dai has not gained the trust of the coaching staff and has yet to make a single appearance this season. He was not included in Shenhua’s latest AFC Champions League squad, signaling that he remains outside Slutsky’s tactical plans.

Part of the issue is his physical condition post-injury, but more importantly, Dai has never truly integrated into Slutsky’s system. Even during his loan spell with Shenzhen Xinpengcheng in 2024, although he had occasional highlights, Slutsky continues to view him as a fringe player. Dai himself appears dissatisfied with the situation, as evident from recent comments in his fan groups.

According to multiple domestic reports, Dai Weijun is seriously considering leaving Shenhua and may join newly promoted Chinese Super League side Dalian Yingbo on loan next season. Yingbo has been a rising force in Chinese football, climbing from the amateur leagues to the CSL and performing impressively this year. Signing a national-team midfielder like Dai would significantly strengthen their attacking options.

If the move materializes, Dai could finally gain consistent playing time — a crucial opportunity to rebuild his career. For Shenhua, letting him go frees up a squad slot and salary space to bring in players who better fit Slutsky’s tactics.

However, Dai’s career trajectory remains uncertain. In just over two years, he has been repeatedly loaned out and marginalized, and any recurrence of injury could put him in an even more difficult position. For Dalian Yingbo, signing a player who hasn’t played all season and is coming off a major knee injury also carries notable risks.