Recently, the veteran Chinese Super League team Beijing Guoan has started its latest winter training in Haikou. Currently, new coach Quique Setién and his coaching staff have officially arrived and are leading the team through comprehensive training.
It is reported that to test the results of the winter training, the club will arrange four friendly matches in the near future, including opponents such as Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, a strong team in the Chinese Super League. In this phase of winter training, one player's performance stands out, he is the local defender He Yupeng.
The 26-year-old He Yupeng comes from the Dalian Shide youth training system. After the dissolution of Shide Club, He Yupeng joined Dalian Aerbin. After Aerbin dissolved, He Yupeng entered Dalian Yifang (later renamed Dalian Pro), starting to compete in the China League One, and returned to the Chinese Super League with the team in the 2018 season.
He Yupeng's performance at Dalian Pro was commendable. Although he is a full-back, he possesses strong attacking power. In the 2019 season, he scored a decisive goal in the Chinese Super League, helping Dalian Pro win away against Shenzhen FC. In the 2022 season, he scored in the match between Dalian Pro and Guangzhou City, contributing to Dalian Pro's 3-0 victory over their opponents. In the 2023 season, He Yupeng provided an assist in the match between Dalian Pro and Beijing Guoan, helping the team draw 2-2, and these remarkable performances earned him the favor of the national team.
In the 2023 season, after Dalian Pro was relegated and announced its dissolution, He Yupeng transferred to Beijing Guoan, becoming a key signing for the last season and considered by many fans as the successor to Wang Gang.
It is also worth mentioning that He Yupeng's joining Guoan was quite dramatic. Originally having the opportunity to join Shandong Taishan, he was ultimately intercepted by Guoan. Initially, He Yupeng's performance at Guoan was unstable, and he once became a substitute. However, in the 14th round of the league, He Yupeng finally broke out, performing a great assist and shot within 3 minutes, helping Guoan defeat Nantong Zhiyun 5-2.
At the national team level, He Yupeng's growth trajectory is clear. From being selected for the U19 national team in 2017, to the U21 national team in 2020, and representing the national team at the East Asian Cup in 2022, He Yupeng has gradually grown into a mature international player. In 2023, he was selected for the national team roster for the first time and made his debut for the national team in a friendly match against Vietnam, helping China win the game.
With the arrival of new coach Quique Setién at Guoan, He Yupeng faces new opportunities and challenges. In the new season, he is expected to replace Wang Gang and become the main right full-back for Guoan. To secure his position in the team, He Yupeng must prove himself through recent training and matches.
The upcoming four friendly matches for Guoan are a great opportunity for He Yupeng to demonstrate his abilities. Fans are looking forward to this young wing-back exploding in the new season, becoming a core player in the defense, and helping Guoan launch an assault on the Chinese Super League championship!