Today, Zhejiang Football Salon welcomes a new face - former Sichuan Jiuniu player Zhang Jiaqi. At the end of the winter training in Kunming, Zhang Jiaqi officially stepped into the new team, after two stages of grueling training, he quickly integrated with his teammates.
Zhang Jiaqi, a native of Shenyang, Liaoning Province, is a versatile player who can play as a back or center back. In his early years, he traveled to France and excelled in Le Mans' youth camp, reserve team and first team. Since 2014, he has been selected for the national team several times. After returning to China, Zhang Jiaqi bounced between several clubs, including Dalian Albin, Guangzhou Evergrande, Qingdao Yellow Sea, etc. And in the 2020 season, he officially joined Sichuan Jiuniu.
In the 2021 season, Zhang Jiaqi played 27 games (starting 23) for Sichuan Jiuniu, contributing 4 goals and becoming the team's main back. His solid defense also earned the team the second lowest number of goals conceded in the league, helping the team finish eighth in the Central League. In the midfield, Zhang Jiaqi is known for his excellent physical confrontation and defensive intensity, averaging 5.1 steals and 22 tackles per game, with a success rate of 61%, and an aerial scramble success rate of 64%. He was also the player with the highest average number of tackles in the Central League last season, and has significantly improved the team's defensive strength since joining the club.
Talking about the reasons for joining Zhejiang, Zhang Jiaqi said: "I am very impressed with Zhejiang, it is a dynamic team with strong strength, professional club management and has developed many young talents. In addition to my trust in the club, one of the key reasons I joined is that I've always wanted to show myself in the top league, the Chinese Super League, and Zhejiang is working hard to return to the Chinese Super League. I hope to help the team realize this goal."
Zhang Jiaqi, who has played against Zhejiang on behalf of Shenzhen Jiazhaoye, Qingdao Yellow Sea and Sichuan Jiuniu, was impressed by Zhejiang: "Zhejiang has many young players, full of vigor, excellent footwork and unity on the field, which makes them an opponent many teams do not want to face."
In the Zhejiang team, Zhang Jiaqi will become an experienced veteran, and his positioning is very clear: "I am a defensive back, will definitely put defense in the first place, and I hope to play my own role in laying a good defensive foundation for the team."
In the team, Zhang Jiaqi not only met the familiar head coach Jiao Di, but also old acquaintances such as Rong Hao, Gao Di, Gu Chao and Yue Xin, "It's a brand new environment, but I'm not worried, everyone takes good care of me, I just need to do well."
