With the opening of the 2025 Chinese football winter transfer window, Beijing Guoan Club has announced a notable list of departing players just as they embark on the second phase of their winter training. The list includes five prime players: Ma Yuju, Liang Shaowen, Ruan Qilong, Yan Yu, and Xiaoqiang, all of whom are in their prime playing years. This news has immediately attracted widespread attention within the football community.
The release of this departure list is not coincidental but a well-considered decision by the Guoan Club. Although these five players were once highly anticipated, various reasons prevented them from fully showcasing their talents at Guoan. Among them, the most noteworthy is the strong interest shown by Chongqing Tongliang Long in three of these players. This ambitious second-tier team aiming for promotion plans to bring in Ma Yuju, Liang Shaowen, and Xiaoqiang, hoping to leverage their abilities to push the team towards its goal of reaching the top league.
Chongqing Tongliang Long's recruitment plan comes with a special background. Last season, Tongliang Long displayed remarkable competitiveness, with promising prospects for promotion. However, they fell short at a critical moment, failing to achieve their desired promotion to the top league. This setback did not diminish the team's ambition; instead, it intensified their desire for promotion after completing a shareholding reform. Consequently, during this transfer window, Chongqing Tongliang Long has been exceptionally proactive, seeking to strengthen their squad by recruiting skilled players.
Among the three potential new additions to Chongqing Tongliang Long, Xiaoqiang's experience stands out. He demonstrated exceptional skills while playing for Dalian Yingbo last season, successfully helping the team achieve promotion. This achievement not only validated his abilities but also significantly increased his market value. Dalian Yingbo had expressed interest in buying out Xiaoqiang's contract, which means Chongqing Tongliang Long must offer a more competitive salary package to secure this outstanding winger.
Liang Shaowen's situation reflects the growth trajectory of youth-trained players. As the captain of Guoan's 01 echelon, he is an excellent player both offensively and defensively. During Guoan's youth team participation in the AFC Champions League, he not only captained the team but also scored a stunning direct free-kick. Unfortunately, his outstanding performance on the Asian stage did not carry over into professional leagues. Last season, he was loaned to Nantong Zhiyun, where he initially faced challenges but gradually improved his form, making him a sought-after talent in the second-tier league transfer market.
Ruan Qilong's story is somewhat regrettable. As a young central defender nurtured by Guoan, he had the opportunity to establish himself in the team. However, a serious injury in the 2023 season disrupted his career plan, leading to a season-long absence. Without this injury, he might have become a mainstay in Guoan's defensive line. This incident once again highlights how injuries can alter a player's career trajectory in professional football.
As the new season approaches, these five departing players will embark on new chapters in their careers. For Chongqing Tongliang Long, successfully recruiting Ma Yuju, Liang Shaowen, and Xiaoqiang would significantly enhance the team's overall strength. These three players possess the capability to excel in the second-tier league, and their experience and skills could play a positive role in the team's promotion ambitions.
From a broader perspective, this transfer not only concerns the future development of individual players but also reflects the current state of talent flow in China's professional football leagues. Whether it's a top-tier powerhouse like Guoan or an aspiring second-tier team like Chongqing Tongliang Long, both are using the transfer market to adjust and optimize their squad composition. This healthy talent circulation will contribute to raising the competitive level of the entire league.
Finally, although these five players are leaving Guoan, they all possess significant strength and potential for development. In new environments, they have every chance to reach new heights in their careers. For Chinese football, the performances of these experienced players across different league levels will contribute to the development of the entire football ecosystem.