Shandong Taishan has made another significant move in the transfer market, securing their second signing of the winter window. Following the recent acquisition of young winger Zhong Yihao from Henan Team, the club has now announced the addition of Tang Chuang, a towering domestic forward who played for Chengdu Rongcheng last season.
Tang Chuang, born in 1996 in Handan, Hebei, stands out from many professional footballers as he did not come through the traditional youth training system. Instead, he made a name for himself in Chinese football through university futsal competitions. In 2015, while studying at Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Tang scored a hat-trick in the final of the Shandong Division of the National University Futsal League, helping his team secure the championship. This match marked a pivotal moment in his career.
During his time at Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Tang received meticulous guidance from Guo Zuojin, the former head coach of Qingdao Hainiu. It was this coach's keen eye that laid the foundation for Tang's professional path.
In 2017, Tang represented Qingdao Zhongqingyinglian in the Chinese City Football League, finishing as runners-up. He then joined Qingdao Hongshi to compete in the China League Two. By the 2019 season, at just 23 years old, Tang transferred to Suzhou Dongwu in the China League One, quickly becoming an important rotational player in the front line.
Over three seasons with Suzhou Dongwu, Tang scored a total of 18 goals and provided 4 assists. His impressive performances in the China League One caught the attention of Chengdu Rongcheng, who successfully signed the domestic tall striker for the 2023 season.
Despite limited playing opportunities due to the presence of foreign center forwards Felipe and Ai Kesen at Chengdu Rongcheng, Tang still managed to shine on the field. Notably, in a match against Shanghai Port last season, Tang replaced Felipe and scored twice within 61 minutes, contributing to Chengdu Rongcheng's 3-1 victory over Port.
This defeat caused Shanghai Port to lose their top spot to Shanghai Shenhua. Fortunately, Port recovered and eventually won the Chinese Super League title. Tang's performance in this match earned him the nickname "Port Killer."
With his contract with Chengdu Rongcheng nearing its end in late January this year, Tang chose not to renew and instead joined Shandong Taishan. His decision to join Taishan was driven not only by the desire to play more matches and earn a higher salary but also by the opportunity to further enhance his skills under the guidance of renowned South Korean coach Choi Kang-hee.
Choi is well-known for his ability to develop tall strikers, having previously revitalized veteran Bi Jinhao at Shanghai Shenhua. Tang aspires to become a key player for Taishan under Choi's leadership and to achieve his dream of being selected for the national team.
For Shandong Taishan, the signings of Tang Chuang and Zhong Yihao are crucial reinforcements. Zhong joined the team on loan, and if he performs well, Taishan may opt to make the move permanent. Tang, on the other hand, has officially transferred to the club, providing Coach Choi with more options in the front line.
With the additions of Zhong Yihao and Tang Chuang, Taishan has injected fresh blood into both their forward and defensive lines. We sincerely hope that Shandong Taishan will have a more outstanding performance in the new season, aiming to finish in the top four of the league and qualify for the 2026 AFC Champions League, even if they don't win the title!