The transfer window for the 2025 season has seen Liaoning football become quite active. Dalian Yibo, who plays in the Chinese Super League, will welcome foreign players like Malele and Amadou, who are part of the championship-winning team's lineup. Meanwhile, Dalian Kuncheng, the new team in the China League One, has signed foreign players like Mukeshui and Sabir, who are aiming for promotion to the top league. They were also very close to signing Joao Carlos, the tall center forward from Liaoning Ironman. On the other hand, Liaoning Ironman seems to have been relatively quiet, announcing several domestic signings, among which only Tian Yinnong has sparked interest and attention from fans.
Liaoning Ironman has only officially announced the renewal of their contract with Bang Benyuyu in terms of foreign players, but they have let go of Sabir. Carlos, who still had one year left on his contract, has also been rumored to be looking for a new club. Although the deal with Dalian Kuncheng did not materialize, the current situation of foreign player recruitment for Liaoning Ironman is indeed worrying for the fans. Many fans jokingly believe that Li Jinyu might be preparing a surprise for everyone, possibly a significant official announcement. It seems that the fans' guesses might have been correct.
In a recent live interaction with fans, Li Jinyu revealed the recruitment situation of Liaoning Ironman. Regarding the most concerning issue of foreign player recruitment, Li Jinyu provided some valuable information. First, he confirmed that Carlos would not stay with the team, but new foreign players are on their way, and the new season's foreign player lineup will be "shocking" for the fans. Li Jinyu appears confident, suggesting that the team will indeed have a major foreign player joining. With Carlos and Sabir leaving, two new foreign players will join, and the "shocking" configuration should be high-profile foreign players. In summary, Li Jinyu asks the fans to wait for good news, which can be considered as giving the fans a reassurance.
Li Jinyu also mentioned that there are still domestic and foreign players available, implying that the previously announced domestic signings may just be appetizers. Tian Yinnong is capable of reaching the starting level, and Pan Ximing, among others, is sufficient as a rotational substitute. If there are more main-level domestic signings, it would truly be a pleasant surprise for the fans. Last season, Liaoning Ironman made a strong push in the second half to win fourth place in the China League One, and Li Jinyu played a significant role in this achievement. Of course, Sabir, Bang Benyuyu, Carlos, and the Hong Kong-Macau-Taiwan player An Yien also formed a formidable combination.
If Liaoning Ironman's foreign player lineup for the new season really lives up to Li Jinyu's description of being at a "shocking" level, then Liaoning Ironman will still be one of the favorites for promotion to the top league. Compared to last season, the situation for promotion this season is even more complicated. Suzhou Dongwu has welcomed the former Henan team's coach and foreign player lineup, Dalian Kuncheng is ambitious, and other strong teams naturally do not need to be mentioned. Therefore, if Liaoning Ironman does not bring in foreign players of a unique level, it would be difficult to say that they have confidence in promotion.