Qingdao's legendary Sea Cowboys, a veteran force in Chinese soccer, once won the AFC Cup, and its youth development mechanism was also highly acclaimed. But in the face of the "golden dollar soccer" frenzy, the team, known for its small-scale operation, once fell into the Second Division, only to win the championship in 2021 and return to the top of the Second Division. Last season, they were runners-up in the first division by themselves, and have been back in the top flight for nine years!
In order to take root in the Chinese Super League, Qingdao Hainiu decisively brought in strong reinforcements during the transfer window. Previously, internal and external reinforcements such as Ma Xingyu, Xu Dong, Forbes, Saric, Evans, and Andrejevic came and went. According to Qingdao's local sports media, Song Wenjie, Liu Junshuai and Zhong Jinbao are about to be officially announced. Among them, Song Wenjie and Liu Junshuai are Qingdao's local talents.
Song Wenjie, a striker born in December 1990, came from Qingdao Hailifeng's youth training program and made his debut at the age of 20 with Qingdao Hainiu's predecessor team, Zhongneng, where he won the 2011 Chinese Super League's Best Newcomer title. However, injuries have been a stumbling block to his development, and he has bounced around Hebei and Shandong before making a comeback in Guangzhou. Last season, he made 23 appearances in the Chinese Super League, scoring 5 goals and assisting 2 times, becoming a key player in Guangzhou's relegation. This return will thicken the lineup for Qingdao Hainiu.
Liu Junshuai, born in January 1995 as a center back and fullback, is the pride of Qingdao Hainiu youth training. He has studied in Portugal and is also a member of the national team. Last season, he was loaned to Qingdao Hainiu from Shandong Taishan and became the hero of the team with 6 goals and 1 assist in 31 matches in China A-League. After many rounds of negotiation with Liu Junshuai and Shandong Taishan Club, he will officially wear the Qingdao Hainiu uniform in the new season.
Zhong Jinbao, a player from Wuhan, Hubei Province, born in November 1994, is in the prime of his career and plays as a forward. He has played for many years in Henan Songshan Longmen, and is experienced in over 100 matches in China. He has participated in the trial of Qingdao Hainiu and appeared in the warm-up matches. The club and coaching staff have initial recognition of his ability and expect him to break new ground in Qingdao Hainiu.
With so many new faces, can Qingdao Hainiu make a difference in the Chinese Super League this season? Let's wait and see, and feel free to leave your comments in the comments section.
