Changchun Yatai have no fewer than 13 first-team players on expiring contracts, as well as two loan deals ending, but what should the team do with all those players?
It’s no secret that Changchun Yatai could do with having a serious overhaul, and with so many contracts expiring, it presents a genuine opportunity to reshape the team for the future.
Here are all the players on expiring deals and what the team should do with them before January 2025 rolls around.
Wu Yake
First up on the list is a player who has been with Changchun Yatai from youth and, beside a 24-game loan spell with Guizhou Zhicheng in 2012, has played his entire career with the club.
Wu Yake has been the Number 1 goalkeeper for a number of years, but has found himself falling out of favour with various coaches, including the well-known efforts of Chen Yang to replace him after Shi Xiaotian departed.
Capable of making some valuable saves, Wu Yake will be 34 at the start of the 2025 season and likely won’t have too many more years left of playing.
Whether the team looks to replace him with the likes of Zou Dehai or another in a more permanent future outlook remains to be seen, but having his experience and his ability to step in comfortably is something the team shouldn’t overlook.
Verdict: Keep on a short-term deal
Yuan Mincheng
Defence has been a big area of weakness for Changchun Yatai this season and, rightly or wrongly, Yuan Mincheng has come in for some criticism for errors that have led to opposition goals.
He has been a fairly steady domestic player in the heart of defence, but has not performed well enough to keep Changchun in the ‘plus’ column and was swiftly replaced by Stoppila Sunzu after the summer transfer window.
Fans have turned on him and likely don’t want to see him back and for this reason, it would not be surprising to see new faces brought in to strengthen the back line.
Verdict: Release
He Yiran
He Yiran has had a breakout season for Changchun Yatai this year. At just 19 years of age, he has started to feature regularly in the first team and has even made the adjustment to left back, while traditionally a centre back.
Zhang Xiaofei held the left back spot for over a decade and while Rao Weihui was serviceable after his retirement, it looks like He Yiran could finally be the long-term successor to the former Yatai captain.
The China Under-19s international should be a mainstay in the team for many years to come and is proof that promising young talent can flourish when given the right opportunity — a blueprint for the future that Changchun should follow.
Verdict: Keep
Sun Guoliang
Sun Guoliang was brought in by Chen Yang this year. At the ripe age of 32 he made his Chinese Super League debut for the club, having never played higher than China League One throughout his career.
A depth player that hasn’t had a real sniff in the first team since the early stage of the season, the now-33-year-old Sun’s time with the team should be at an end after 15 total appearances.
Verdict: Release
Liao Chengjian
Liao Chengjian has been a stable defensive presence in midfield for Changchun Yatai, and his absence with injury was noticeable for the club earlier this year.
He is a solid, dependable player that should receive a new contract for 2025 — keeping him and his defensive capabilities in a team that has struggled to keep the ball out of the net at times this year.
Verdict: Keep
Li Shenyuan (loan)
Since arriving on loan from Shanghai Port, Li Shenyuan has been arguably one of the team’s top performers this year and has already won over the fanbase with his reliability down the right side.
Whenever he has been out of the side this year, replacements have been lacking in quality and it has been extremely noticeable how much better Li Shenyuan makes this team.
He will return to Shanghai at the end of the season, but if he does not have a future ahead of him in the south then Changchun Yatai should do everything in their power to bring him back to Nanling Stadium on a permanent deal.
Verdict: Attempt to sign permanently
Cui Qi
Cui Qi has been absent for the entirety of this season due to a serious injury, which even required him to conduct his rehabilitation in Germany.
He has recently returned to the team and could make at least one appearance before the end of the year, all things being well. He is a talented player that would at the very least provide depth along the back line — capable of playing pretty much anywhere, but primarily on the right.
Deserves at least a year’s deal to get him back into things and to assess where the team is heading for the future.
Verdict: Keep
Yan Zhiyu
Yan Zhiyu has been a steady player in his time with Changchun Yatai, but it’s clear his days at Nanling are coming to an end. He would have already been gone had it not been for Wuhan Three Towns’ transfer embargo scuppering a mid-season switch.
The wing back will most likely depart Changchun this winter and head closer to home to see out the rest of his career.
Verdict: Release
Dilyimit Tudi
Tudi is a player that offers a lot in midfield, yet he hasn’t always been allowed to show it in Changchun.
He has had two loan spells away from the club but was, quite rightly, brought back into the fold by Xie Hui earlier this year as the club looked to secure their Chinese Super League safety.
He is solid defensively and would provide valuable depth and options for the team. Deserves more opportunities to show what he is capable of and is still fairly young at 25.
Verdict: Keep
Stoppila Sunzu
Changchun’s defensive performances improved drastically once Stoppila Sunzu was brought in by Xie Hui during the summer transfer window.
He provided experience and reliability in a defensive group that had been caught out too many times due to unforced errors. Partnering Lazar Rosic, Changchun have looked better overall at the back.
However, errors have remained and Sunzu has been caught out himself at times. He will be 36 by the time the 2025 season begins and Changchun Yatai need to be planning for the future and building a younger squad.
If the team is capable of finding other players to strengthen defensively in the winter, then that should be the route they take.
Verdict: Reluctantly Release
Jiang Wenhao (loan)
Jiang Wenhao was brought in on loan from Beijing Guoan to sure up their weak left side of defence. Yan Zhiyu returning effectively made this an unnecessary move and he has barely featured for the team, especially with He Yiran cementing his place as the long-term future of the team.
He has made six total appearances since making the move further north, but he has amassed barely more than two games’ worth of minutes played. If given more of a chance, perhaps there could be interest next year but as things stand it looks like another player just passing by.
Verdict : Allow to leave
Wang Jinxian
Wang Jinxian is a popular player in Changchun. He wears a popular number (8) and plays in the same position as one of the team’s all-time legends, Du Zhenyu.
Broken ribs derailed his season but he still offers some value. Not quick enough, or effective enough in the attacking third, he shouldn’t be considered a starter for the team but he could certainly play well enough in relief if the team can make necessary improvements.
Verdict: Keep
Liu Yun
When Liu Yun arrived, it was expected that he would play a key role for the team after years in Wuhan and even holding the captaincy for Wuhan Yangtze River before their dissolution.
However, injuries have plagued him and he has not shown himself to be an effective enough player on the right side anymore. Serginho, club captain, has become the preferred choice in that role despite him typically playing more centrally — showing how unimpactful Liu Yun has become.
Time for him to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Verdict: Release
Sabit Abdusalam
Sabit was a Chen Yang favourite for a while, playing the majority of matches in 2023, courtesy of their earlier career relationship. However, he is not good enough for this team and should be let go without hesitation.
Verdict: Release
Cheng Changcheng
A long-time servant of the club, whom fans have a certain fondness for despite him effectively stealing a living his entire career as a striker who has amassed just six goals in 88 appearances (five of which have incidentally come over the previous two seasons).
Finally seen for what he is, at 33 he has made just two appearances this year and should be let go. He might do a job further down the league and maybe Changchun Xidu could tempt him if they can find a way into China League Two in 2025.
Verdict: Release
Tan Long
A true Changchun Yatai legend. A player that fans wish could play forever and one who has still been effective despite already being 36 years old.
Tan Long has 10 goal contributions in 27 matches this season, across both league and cup, and is still a heart-on-his-sleeve type player that gives his all for the team.
His playing days are numbered, but he should undoubtedly be given the chance to see them out with the club and keep playing as long as he can contribute.
Without a doubt the easiest decision for the club when it comes to this list.
Verdict: Keep