Zhang Zhuoyi’s Football Career on the Brink — No Club Willing to Take Him, Admits Sadly: “I Don’t Love Football That Much Anymore”

After a public fallout with HiBall Youth Academy, China’s once-hailed “football prodigy” Zhang Zhuoyi now faces what appears to be the end of his professional dreams. Reports reveal that no professional club’s youth team is willing to take him, forcing the 12-year-old to enroll in a regular middle school and continue playing only for the school’s team.

The controversy began in May this year, when Zhang’s mother accused former national player Sun Jihai and the HiBall Youth program on social media, alleging they demanded an outrageous ¥180,000 compensation. Negotiations quickly broke down, leading Zhang’s parents to file for arbitration with the Chinese Football Association (CFA). Before the CFA could deliver a verdict, HiBall countersued Zhang’s parents, seeking ¥2.66 million in damages for alleged contract breaches. With the matter now in court, the CFA suspended its arbitration process. The case remains unresolved, leaving Zhang’s player registration status in limbo — a major obstacle to his training and development.

According to The Beijing News, Zhang has since left HiBall and returned to Longqi Football Club in Xi’an for training. However, without a free-agent certificate, he remains in a “floating” state, unable to sign with any professional academy. Longqi coach Mao Jiaxi bluntly assessed the situation: “Given the scale of the controversy, professional clubs are likely to keep their distance. Zhang Zhuoyi’s professional path is, in all likelihood, already cut off.”

Unable to join a professional setup, Zhang has enrolled in a local middle school, where he now trains with the school football team just to maintain his touch on the ball. Compared to his structured, high-intensity sessions at HiBall, his current training lacks both rigor and professional guidance. What’s more, Zhang is now barred from participating in multiple elite tournaments under the CFA system — a devastating blow for a young player once viewed as one of China’s brightest prospects.

The prolonged dispute and uncertainty have clearly taken a toll. At just 12 years old, Zhang admits feeling worn down by the ordeal. When asked if he still loves football, his quiet reply speaks volumes: “It’s okay… but not as much as before.”

Once the symbol of China’s youth football hopes, Zhang Zhuoyi’s story has turned from promise to cautionary tale — a reminder of how fragile young talent can be when caught between passion, ambition, and the machinery of modern sports.