Wang Yudong (simplified Chinese: 王钰栋; traditional Chinese: 王鈺棟; pinyin: Wáng Yùdòng; born 23 November 2006) is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Chinese Super League club Zhejiang.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Wang Yudong | ||
| Date of birth | 23 November 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Fenghua, Zhejiang, China | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Zhejiang | ||
| Number | 39 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Shanghai Shenrui | |||
| Taizhou Ostrich | |||
| 2021 | Ningbo Sports School | ||
| 2021–2023 | Zhejiang FA | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Zhejiang | 5 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | China U17 | 6 | (11) |
| 2023– | China U23 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 April 2024 | |||
Early life
Born in Dayan Town in the Fenghua District of Ningbo on 23 November 2006,[1] Wang Yudong moved to Shenzhen at a young age, as his father had done business there,[2] being educated at Shenzhen Dongfang Primary School.[3] To help with Wang Yudong's development in football, his father built him a football pitch in Shenzhen, and formed an amateur football club.[4] After moving back to Zhejiang, his home province, he first joined the Shanghai Shenrui,[4] then moved to the Zhejiang Ostrich youth academy.[2] In 2021, he joined Ningbo Sports School to play in the Ningbo Football Super League.[2]
Club career
In 2021, Wang Yudong started training with the Zhejiang FA youth team, a feeder team to Zhejiang.[2]
On 20 July 2023, he signed his first professional contract at Zhejiang, joining the first-team with immediate effect.[5] Five days later on 25 July, he made his senior debut for Zhejiang, coming on as a substitute for Yue Xin in a 5–1 loss to Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese FA Cup.[6] Wang made his Chinese Super League debut a month later on 26 August, coming on for the final six minutes in a 3–0 win over Dalian Pro.[7]
On 20 September, he came on to make his AFC Champions League debut in a 4–1 away defeat to Buriram United, becoming the youngest Chinese footballer to ever make an appearance in the competition.[8] On 29 October 2023, he made his first goal contribution for Zhejiang, in a league game against Cangzhou Mighty Lions, providing an assist for Ji Shengpan to seal the victory for the club at 6–1.[9] On 26 February 2024, he was awarded the 2023 Chinese Golden Boy award for the under-17 level.[10]
International career
Wang Yudong had first been involved in China youth teams in 2019, when he was selected for a China U12 squad. He later captained in the U14 level, and later on featured in U16 squads as early as 2021.[11]
In 2022, he was selected for 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification matches with the China under-17 national team,[12] where he scored eight goals in three games, gaining qualification into the final tournament.[13]
On 3 June 2023, he was named in the final squad for the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup.[14] In the Asian Cup, Wang Yudong scored a double against Australia,[15] and another goal against Tajikistan.[16]
On 26 December 2023, Wang Yudong made his debut for the China under-23 national team in a friendly against Malaysia, aged 17.[17] Three months later on 5 April 2024, Wang was included in the China U23 squad for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[18]
Personal life
In 2022, Wang Yudong claimed in an interview that he is a fan of Neymar's playing style.[4]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 26 April 2024[19]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Zhejiang | 2023 | Chinese Super League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | |
| 2024 | Chinese Super League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0[a] | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
Honours
Individual
- Chinese Golden Boy (U17): 2023[10]
References
External links
- Wang Yudong at Soccerway