Wang Yudong

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.
Wang Yudong
Personal information
Full name Wang Yudong
Date of birth (2006-11-23) 23 November 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Fenghua, Zhejiang, China
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Zhejiang FC
Number 39
Youth career
Shanghai Shenrui
Taizhou Ostrich
2021 Ningbo Sports School
2021–2023 Zhejiang FA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Zhejiang FC 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

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 FC.

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 FC.[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 FC 2023 Chinese Super League 4 0 1 0 3[a] 0 – 8 0
2024 Chinese Super League 1 0 0 0 0[b] 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
  1. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League
  2. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League Two

Honours

Individual

  • Chinese Golden Boy (U17): 2023[10]

References

  1. ^ "恭喜！浙江球员首次登顶！奉化小伙王钰栋摘得中国金球奖". www.fh.gov.cn (in Chinese). The People's Government of Fenghua District, Ningbo. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "他是第一个入选足球国奥队的宁波球员，今年17岁". www.fh.gov.cn (in Chinese). Sina Corporation. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  3. ^ "足球U13国少队扬威捷克 宁波小将王钰栋是核心". tyj.zj.gov.cn (in Chinese). Sports Bureau of Zhejiang Province. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "王钰栋：杨导让我们剪寸头是希望我们遵守纪律，以团队为主". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  5. ^ "官宣 | U17小将王钰栋正式签约浙江FC". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). Zhejiang Professional F.C. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  6. ^ "新的起点！17岁小将王钰栋替补登场，上演浙江一线队首秀". www.sohu.com (in Chinese). Sohu. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  7. ^ "16岁国青天才上演中超生涯首秀！表现不错，没留洋有点可惜". www.thepaper.cn (in Chinese). The Paper. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  8. ^ "国足最大希望：16岁王钰栋成亚冠最年轻出场者，获评高分！". www.163.com (in Chinese). 21 September 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  9. ^ "继续加油！16岁王钰栋精准传球助队友破门，收获职业赛场首次助攻". new.qq.com (in Chinese). 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b "2023中国金球奖获奖名单：武磊四夺金球，张琳艳获女足金球". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  11. ^ "宁波球员王钰栋入选U16国家男子足球队". m.gmw.cn (in Chinese). 14 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  12. ^ "中国足球协会关于组织U-17国家男子足球队2022年第四期集训的通知". www.thecfa.cn (in Chinese). Chinese Football Association. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  13. ^ "王钰栋锁定U17亚洲杯预选赛最佳射手 已被职业俱乐部盯上". www.sohu.com (in Chinese). Sohu. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  14. ^ "U17国少出发！王钰栋领衔23人大名单 将在泰国连战沙特、澳大利亚". new.qq.com (in Chinese). 3 June 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  15. ^ "国少3-5澳大利亚U17，王钰栋双响，谢龚博两扑点+连场黄油手". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  16. ^ "U17亚洲杯：国少1-1塔吉克斯坦，王钰栋破门，谢龚博黄油手". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  17. ^ "下届奥运还能踢，17岁小将王钰栋上演中国国奥队首秀". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  18. ^ "男足国奥队参加卡塔尔U23亚洲杯名单公布" [The men's Olympic football team's roster for the U23 Asian Cup in Qatar is announced]. sports.xinhuanet.com (in Chinese). 5 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  19. ^ Wang Yudong at Soccerway