Yan Xinyu returned to China, but failed to get into the first team of Shenhua as he wished. He spent several years in the reserve team and became an experienced reserve player. Although he wore Shenhua's uniform several times in 2018 and 2019, competing in the U23 League and reserve team tournaments, but he was never able to cross the threshold of the first team.
In 2020, Yan Xinyu said goodbye to Shenhua and played for Nantong Zhiyun, a Chinese League One team at the time. This was originally a stage for him to prove himself, but unfortunately, he did not win the attention he deserved in Nantong Zhiyun. After that, Yan Xinyu moved to Inner Mongolia Grass on the fly, Shaoxing Shangyu Yilong and other teams in the Central A and Central B, but has never been able to stabilize his team position.
However, Yan Xinyu's fate is not entirely unfortunate. He coincided with the "golden dollar era" of the Chinese Super League and the dividends of the U23 policy. Even in the reserve team, his annual salary can reach the level of one million, which in the current Chinese Super League is a considerable income.
Last season, Yan Xinyu played for Central B team Hubei Young Stars and scored in the AFC Cup. However, at the end of the season, he failed to get the club to extend his contract. The 29-year-old Yan Xinyu had to choose to say goodbye to the field early.
Yan Xinyu has been trained in soccer since he was a child, but due to a lack of systematic education and other skills, it was difficult for him to find a suitable job against the backdrop of the economic downturn. He ended up having to work as a street vendor, making a living from fried rice.
Fans were shocked to learn that the former multi-million dollar a year professional player has now been reduced to the status of a street vendor. This transformation has also triggered a profound reflection on the development model of Chinese soccer. To some extent, Yan Xinyu's experience is not isolated, but epitomizes the systemic problems of Chinese soccer.
Nonetheless, we admire Yan Xinyu's courage and ability to survive in the face of adversity. Not all people who earn millions of dollars a year can make such a choice. As a post 95, he chose to be self-reliant instead of waiting for opportunities, an attitude that deserves praise.
Yan Xinyu's experience is also a wake-up call for other young players. While chasing the dream of soccer, they should also plan ahead for the future career path. After all, the professional soccer career is fleeting, the road of life is still long.
