On the last day of 2024, several players announced their retirement or departure from their clubs, providing a clearer picture of the squad adjustments for various teams. On December 31, 2024, three national team-level players, Yu Dabao, Cao Yunding, and Zhao Mingjian, successively announced their retirement.
Yu Dabao is known as the "lucky charm" of the national team, having played 65 times for the national team, scoring 19 goals, ranking tenth in the national team's historical top scorers list, with an additional 8 assists. He has scored decisive goals in rainy matches against Iraq, overturned Kyrgyzstan in the 19th Asian Cup, headed the ball past South Korea's goal in Changsha in 2017, and scored within 80 seconds against the Philippines, creating memorable moments for Chinese football fans.
Cao Yunding is a loyal blue-blooded player who joined Shanghai Shenhua in 2011 and served for 14 seasons, playing a total of 350 games and scoring 39 goals. However, at the national team level, Cao Yunding's statistics are mediocre, having only played 5 times for the national team without scoring any goals or assists.
Zhao Mingjian once won the FA Cup with Shandong Taishan. He has played 9 times for the national team, contributing 2 assists. Although there were rumors that Zhao Mingjian would renew his contract and play for another year, he himself announced his retirement on the last day of 2024 through a live broadcast. The new season of the Chinese Super League will not see the three veterans Yu Dabao, Cao Yunding, and Zhao Mingjian take the field.
In addition, the China League One club Chongqing Tongliang Long officially announced that veteran Wu Qing has retired. Born in Chongqing in 1981 and now 43 years old, Wu Qing has long served his hometown team and is a legend in the hearts of Chongqing fans. Wu Qing has played 185 times for Chongqing Lifan, contributing 14 goals and 10 assists. He also played for Dalian Aerbin from 2011 to 2013. After playing 11 times for Chongqing Tongliang Long and scoring 2 goals, Wu Qing will join the coaching staff of Tongliang Long after retiring to continue contributing to the team.
Chongqing Tongliang Long's 13 tigers have left! In the new season, Chongqing Tongliang Long aims to be promoted to the top league and has made significant adjustments to its lineup. The club officially announced that 13 first-team players have left: "Tomorrow is a long journey, cherish this moment." After friendly negotiations and reaching an agreement with the players themselves, the contracts between players Kudiretti, Li Yijie, Chen Zhao, Shi Jiwei, Yin Yaji, Wu Jiqi, Tabek, Andreyevich, Zhao Hejing, Wang Weicheng, Wang Shiqin, Hu Jing, Luo Andong and Chongqing Tongliang Long Football Club have been terminated, and they have officially left the team.
Shanghai Shenhua previously lost Malele, and with Cao Yunding announcing his retirement, the club has officially announced that it will not renew contracts with multiple players, including Wen Jiabao terminating his contract early. The announcement stated that four players, Cao Yunding, Malele, Jinyangyang, and Xu Yougang, will not renew their contracts; Wen Jiabao will terminate his contract early. Malele played for two seasons with Shenhua, appearing in 67 games and scoring 36 goals.
Jinyangyang joined Shenhua in 2021 and played a total of 48 games, scoring 2 goals. Jinyangyang was sold for one million euros when he was at R&F, taking advantage of the golden football era, and this was the price. Any player who had been on the national team roster basically started at 70 million yuan.
Xu Yougang was promoted to the first team of Shenhua in 2015 and played 42 games, scoring 3 goals. Some Shenhua fans expressed regret, saying, "It's a pity that Xu Yougang almost came out in Huanghai. His performance in the first season after Shenhua brought him back was quite good, but then he was recruited into the military training team and trained stupidly" "He fell directly from grace."
Wen Jiabao joined Shenhua in 2020 and played a total of 56 games. In Slutske's lineup, many players did not get opportunities, including Cao 28, Zhou Bao, and Wen Jiabao. Wen, a promising player born in 1999, terminated his contract a year early, leading fans to ask, "What happened? Why did he reach the point of terminating his contract early, just to take the money and retire?" "His contract is the highest-paid contract for Shenhua this year, and he's already living comfortably." "The four-way driver didn't give him any chances at all!"
Additionally, Shanghai Port player Li Shenyuan bid farewell on social media, posting in his video, "Today is the last day of 2024. A brief farewell after ten years from 2014 to 2024. Thank you for the training provided by the club, Shanghai Port Football Club. Thank you to everyone. Farewell for now, until we meet again, let's keep moving forward!"