In the midst of the turmoil surrounding the disbandment of the Chongqing team, the future of many players became uncertain, and the CFA reacted swiftly by opening an emergency transfer window, permitting third-tier teams to absorb Chongqing players, with a maximum of three from each club.The rare transfer window opened at midday on May 27, and the Henan Songshan Longmen club announced two signings by early evening, namely former international goalkeeper Shi Xiaotian and a local star from Henan, Liu Yixin. The two signings, respectively, are the former national goalkeeper Shi Xiaotian and a local star in Henan, Liu Yixin. These two signings undoubtedly highlight the extremely high cost-effective.
Shi Xiaotian, 32, is a veteran of the Chinese Super League with a wealth of playing experience. He has played for Guangzhou City, Liaoning, and Changchun Yatai, totaling 132 career appearances.In January 2017, he was selected for the Lippi-coached national football team, with which he participated in the China Cup in Nanning. In the third-place match, Shi Xiaotian, as the starting goalkeeper, successfully saved a key penalty kick from Croatia, helping the national soccer team to win the third place in that tournament.
Shi Xiaotian, who spent the past two seasons with Changchun Yatai, did not get his contract renewed when it expired. He originally planned to join Shanghai Shenhua, but Shenhua was restricted by FIFA from registering new players due to a contract dispute with a foreign player, so Shi Xiaotian joined Chongqing instead. However, the dissolution of the Chongqing team left him in a professional limbo.
Henan's main goalkeeper Wu Nano left this season to join Shaanxi, leaving Henan slightly weak in the goalkeeper position. Henan's rapid introduction of Shi Xiaotian has undoubtedly given the team a boost in the goalkeeper position.
Liu Yixin, 21, the Zhengzhou-born youngster, stands at 1 meter 83 and is a left defender. He comes from the Evergrande Football Academy youth training camp, and has trained in Spain for three years before moving from the Guangzhou team to Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic in 2019. This return of Liu Yixin is a contribution to his hometown team and adds vitality to Henan's youth training system.
