Zhang Yingkai
Chinese footballer (born 2004)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zhang Yingkai (simplified Chinese: 张英凯; traditional Chinese: 張英凱; pinyin: Zhāng Yīngkǎi; born 28 February 2004) is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Chinese Super League club Chongqing Tonglianglong.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 February 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Laizhou, Shandong, China | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Chongqing Tonglianglong | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Shandong Taishan | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Shandong Taishan | 6 | (0) |
| 2024 | Shandong Taishan B | 21 | (0) |
| 2025– | Chongqing Tonglianglong | 41 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | China U14 | ||
| 2026– | China U23 | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 July 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 July 2026 | |||
Early life and youth career
Zhang became interested in football at the age of 5 after watching Shandong Taishan player Guo Tianyu play. He chose to attend Jinan Dianliu No. 1 Primary School to pursue football training, where he was selected by coach Zhang Tao to join the Shandong Taishan youth academy.[2]
Club career
Shandong Taishan
In 2022, Zhang represented Shandong Taishan in the AFC Champions League, playing as a starting defender in all 6 group stage matches.[1] In the 2023 season, he helped Shandong Taishan U21 team win the Chinese Football Association U-21 League championship[3] and was selected to the tournament's Best XI.[4] In the 2024 season, he played for Shandong Taishan B team in China League Two, making 20 appearances with 15 starts.[5]
Chongqing Tonglianglong
On 27 January 2025, Chongqing Tonglianglong officially announced the signing of Zhang from Shandong Taishan.[1] The transfer fee was reported to be approximately 199,000 euros (about 1.5 million RMB).[6] He was assigned the number 3 jersey.[7]
In the 2025 China League One season, Zhang made 25 appearances with 16 starts, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist.[8] On 12 April 2025, in the 4th round match against Shaanxi Union, he provided an assist from the left flank for Xiang Yuwang's opening goal in a 2–1 victory.[9] On 3 May 2025, in the 7th round match against Dingnan Ganlian, he scored a long-range goal to open the scoring in a 2–1 victory.[10]
In the 2025 season, Chongqing Tonglianglong earned promotion to the Chinese Super League.[11]
In the 2026 Chinese Super League season, Zhang made his debut in the opening round on 7 March 2026, starting in a 0–0 away draw against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. He was substituted in the 89th minute.[12]
International career
In May 2018, Zhang was first called up to the China U14 national team as a starting centre-back for the Shandong Luneng 2004 age group.[2]
On 28 May 2026, Zhang was named in the China U23 national team training squad for warm-up matches against Tajikistan U23 in preparation for the 2026 Asian Games.[13] On 9 June 2026, he started in the U23 national team's 3–0 victory over Tajikistan U23 in Guiyang.[14]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 1 July 2026
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Shandong Taishan | 2022 | Chinese Super League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| Shandong Taishan B | 2024 | China League Two | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||
| Chongqing Tonglianglong | 2025 | China League One | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 1 | ||
| Chongqing Tonglianglong | 2026 | Chinese Super League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 62 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 1 | ||
Honours
Shandong Taishan U21
- Chinese Football Association U-21 League: 2023