Biography
Who is Zhang Yuning?
Early club career and European start
Zhang Yuning began his football path at the Hangzhou Greentown youth academy in 2008. His development within the system led to opportunities with the Chinese national under-17 squad, where he participated in the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship. He scored twice across three tournament matches. By 2015, Zhang was promoted to the Hangzhou Greentown first team. He made his debut and scored his initial goal for the club during a May 2015 Chinese FA Cup draw against Wuhan Hongxing.
In July 2015, Zhang transferred to the Eredivisie club Vitesse on a two-year deal. He debuted for the team in February 2016 during a victory against SC Heerenveen. Over the following months, he recorded goals against Roda JC, Twente, and PEC Zwolle. During the 2016-17 season, he was often used as a substitute behind Ricky van Wolfswinkel. He also contributed to the squad's KNVB Cup success in 2017, although he remained an unused substitute for the final match.
International loans and transfers
In July 2017, Zhang signed a three-year contract with the Premier League team West Bromwich Albion. He was immediately loaned to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga for a two-year period. However, he struggled to secure regular playing time with the first team, appearing on the bench twice during the 2017-18 season. His loan spell ended early in June 2018.
Following his time in Germany, Zhang joined ADO Den Haag on loan for the 2018-19 season. His progress was hindered by a ligament tear in his right ankle sustained while representing the Chinese under-23 team at the 2018 Asian Games, which sidelined him for three months. He eventually made his debut for the club in November 2018 against PEC Zwolle. After playing six matches without scoring, his loan was terminated in February 2019.
Beijing Guoan and national team success
Zhang transferred to Beijing Guoan in the Chinese Super League in February 2019. He debuted for the team in March 2019 against Wuhan Zall and scored his first goal for the club shortly after against Chongqing Lifan. His performance in the Chinese Super League led to individual recognition, including the Domestic Golden Boot in 2022 and being named the Chinese Footballer of the Year that same year. He also helped the club secure the Chinese FA Cup in 2025 and the Chinese FA Super Cup in 2026.
On the international stage, Zhang debuted for the Chinese senior team in June 2016, scoring twice against Trinidad and Tobago. He was part of the squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. In 2024, he participated in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. During a game against Thailand in June 2024, FIFA and the AFC credited him with a goal that deflected off his back. He also scored a match-winning goal against Bahrain in November 2024.
Personal life and background
Zhang comes from a devout Christian family and has identified the Brazilian footballer Kaká as his primary athletic role model. His younger brother, Zhang Yuquan, is also a professional football player. Zhang Yuquan is currently active in the sport, serving as a goalkeeper for the club Shenzhen Peng City.
Birthday and age
Zhang Yuning was born on January 5, 1997, which makes Zhang 29 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Zhang shares the date with 27 other famous people.
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