Biography
Who is Zhang Xizhe?
Professional football beginnings
Zhang Xizhe began his professional football path with the Chinese Super League team Beijing Guoan. He made his initial appearance for the squad on August 30, 2009, during a match against Shandong Luneng that ended in a 1-1 tie.
In 2010, the club sent him on loan to the S.League team Beijing Guoan Talent. He scored his first goal for that team on March 12, 2010, in a 3-1 victory over Geylang United. Upon returning to Beijing later that July, he continued to develop his skills. By 2012, his performance earned him the Chinese Football Association Young Player of the Year award. He had a well-known breakout season in 2013, contributing eleven goals and twelve assists across thirty league games.
International career and VfL Wolfsburg
Zhang transferred to the German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg on December 16, 2014. Although he participated in training camps and appeared on matchday rosters, he did not play in an official match for the team. He returned to his original club, Beijing Guoan, in July 2015.
His international career began with the Chinese under-20 team in 2009. He participated in the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers, scoring two goals. Zhang made his senior national team debut on March 26, 2011, during a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica. He scored his first international goal on September 6, 2013, in a 6-1 win against Singapore. He also helped the national team advance to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup by scoring a penalty against Iraq in March 2014.
Recent milestones with Beijing Guoan
After returning from Germany, Zhang became a central figure for Beijing Guoan. In 2018, he helped the team secure the Chinese FA Cup title, scoring a crucial goal in the second leg of the final against Shandong Luneng. This victory marked the club's first major trophy in nine years. During a 2017 league match against Chongqing Dangdai Lifan, he was sent off and subsequently received a twelve-match suspension from the Chinese Football Association.
Zhang reached significant milestones in his career with the club. He made his 300th appearance for the team on November 24, 2020, during an AFC Champions League match against Melbourne Victory. On May 21, 2025, he played his 400th game for the club in a 4-0 win against Shijiazhuang Gongfu, scoring a direct free kick. He became the third player in team history to reach 400 games. Fans celebrated this achievement on June 14, 2025, when he captained the team to a 2-1 victory over Changchun Yatai.
Birthday and age
Zhang Xizhe was born on January 23, 1991, which makes Zhang 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Zhang shares the date with 26 other famous people.
Explore more
