Thank You, Shao Jiayi! Four Qingdao West Coast Players Make Huge Breakthroughs — and Could All Leave the Club; 20-Year-Old Defender Set for Beijing Guoan

This season, newly promoted Qingdao West Coast delivered one of the most pleasant surprises in the Chinese Super League. Under the leadership of young coach Shao Jiayi, the team not only secured safety well ahead of schedule but even climbed into the top six at one point. Eventually finishing ninth, they improved on last season’s 10th-place result with stability and ambition.

Shao Jiayi played a pivotal role in this progress. Beyond crafting a sharp counterattacking system, he also revitalized several young talents who have now become some of the most exciting players in the league.

The first is Duan Liuyu.
On loan from Shandong Taishan, Duan flourished under Shao Jiayi’s guidance. With 6 goals, 2 assists, and 30 key passes in 27 appearances, he has become one of the most creative Chinese players this season. Once overlooked at Taishan, he is now a core figure in West Coast’s attack.

The second is 20-year-old fullback Yang Xi.
Trained in Spain’s youth system, Yang stunned fans with 106 successful tackles — among the highest in the entire league. He is fearless, aggressive in duels, and even capable of powerful dribbling runs. After joining West Coast, he instantly rose to fame and is now being targeted by several top clubs. Beijing Guoan is currently the most likely destination.

Third on the list is goalkeeper Li Hao.
A calm and reliable presence, Li kept 8 clean sheets in 29 matches and ranked among the league leaders in aerial actions and successful rush-outs. His talent has drawn interest both domestically and overseas. Shanghai Shenhua are particularly keen and may secure his signature next season.

Lastly, we have 21-year-old midfielder Xu Bin.
A graduate of the Evergrande academy, Xu joined West Coast on a free transfer this year and showed remarkable progression. With 30 appearances and 3 assists, he earned a spot in the national team’s training squad and was selected into the CSL U21 Best XI. His rapid development has caught the eye of European scouts. He has already traveled to the UK for trials with Premier League side Wolves — and could very well sign there.

But with growth comes a challenge:
These four rising stars could all leave next season.

• Duan Liuyu: Loan ends → returns to Shandong Taishan
• Li Hao: Expected to join Shanghai Shenhua
• Yang Xi: Very likely to sign with Beijing Guoan
• Xu Bin: If Wolves offer a contract, West Coast will not hold him back

Qingdao West Coast’s season has been full of positive surprises, and their young players are ready for even bigger stages. We hope each of them reaches new heights — and we hope West Coast continues to rise rather than fade.