Biography
Who is Yan Junling?
Early career and club beginnings
Yan Junling began his football development by joining the Genbao Football Academy in 2001. His professional path advanced when he was promoted to the first team squad of Shanghai SIPG in 2007. For his first several seasons, he served as the backup goalkeeper behind Gu Chao.
Following the transfer of Gu to Hangzhou Greentown in 2011, Yan stepped into the role of the primary goalkeeper for the club. He made 24 appearances during the 2012 season, helping the team secure the second tier league title. This achievement resulted in the club earning promotion to the top flight of Chinese football.
Success with Shanghai Port
Yan became a consistent starter for the team during the 2013 Chinese Super League campaign. He was a key figure when the club finished as runners-up in the 2015 league season, which helped the organization qualify for the AFC Champions League for the first time in its history.
In 2018, the goalkeeper celebrated winning his first Chinese Super League title with the team. During a 2019 AFC Champions League match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, he saved a penalty kick from Lee Dong-gook, which assisted his team in winning the penalty shootout. He secured his second league championship on 29 October 2023 after a draw against Shandong Taishan. His trophy collection expanded further with titles in 2024 and 2025, alongside a 2024 Chinese FA Cup victory.
International football career
Yan made his debut for the Chinese national football team on 13 December 2014 during a match against Kyrgyzstan. His official debut followed on 27 March 2015, where he played as a substitute in a 2-2 draw against Haiti. He was also part of the squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, serving as the backup for Wang Dalei.
After the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification cycle, manager Marcello Lippi chose Yan as the first-choice goalkeeper for the national team. He played every minute of the five matches during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. More recently, he started all three matches for China in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar, managing to keep two clean sheets during the group stage.
Personal details and awards
Standing at 191 centimeters tall, Yan has received significant recognition for his performance on the pitch. He was named the Chinese Football Association Goalkeeper of the Year for three consecutive seasons in 2017, 2018, and 2019. During those same years, he was also selected for the Chinese Super League Team of the Year.
His trophy cabinet also includes the 2019 Chinese FA Super Cup, where he was named the Most Valuable Player. He has remained a dedicated professional throughout his career, representing teams such as the China national under-20 football team and the China Olympic football team before cementing his place with the senior national squad.
Birthday and age
Yan Junling was born on January 28, 1991, which makes Yan 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Yan shares the date with 32 other famous people.
Explore more
