Today marks the 32nd anniversary of Beijing Guoan, and as we enter a new year, the team is actively reinforcing its ranks in preparation for a higher ranking and aiming to achieve new breakthroughs in the AFC Champions League. To this end, Beijing Guoan has undergone a coaching change during this winter transfer window, with Setien taking over to build a team focused on attacking football, abandoning the defensive counter-attack strategy with two foreign center-backs that was employed under Suarez this year. As a result, the focus has shifted to player acquisitions and departures.
In terms of departures, it is likely that 【Engadu】, who was previously rumored to be heading to West Asia, will remain with the team. However, another foreign center-back, 【Mamadou】, is highly likely to leave and become a backup target for Dalian Yingbo. Additionally, 【Duan Dezhi】, who was loaned to Suzhou Dongwu, may continue to be loaned out, while veteran 【Zhang Chengdong】 is expected to leave and join Qingdao West Coast. Midfielder 【Li Ke】 is not expected to leave, with rumors suggesting he might move to Chengdu Rongcheng. The average age of Beijing Guoan's squad in the new season will continue to decrease, with the scale of mid-career players expanding and continuing to play a leading role.
The departure of old players and the arrival of new signings are all just rumors at this point. Currently, there are ongoing efforts to naturalize 【Serginho】, who is set to become the team's first new signing and will temporarily join as a foreign player. Whether he can register as a domestic player remains to be seen. The 17-year-old Chinese-foreign player 【Liao Yangyang】 is currently being evaluated in Chongqing and is highly likely to be targeted by Beijing Guoan. 【Yan Dinghao】, who has gradually become marginalized in Chengdu Rongcheng this year, is said to be in contact with Beijing Guoan, with the possibility of a loan move not being ruled out; while 【Yuan Mincheng】, the defender from Changchun Yatai, is expected to sign with Beijing Guoan in 2025.
【Wu Shaocong】, who plays for the Turkish Youth United Team, did not receive any playing opportunities throughout the first half of the league season. In order to maintain his match fitness and continue to compete for the national team, Wu Shaocong may return to the CSL after the opening of the winter transfer window and join Beijing Guoan.
There are also rumors that former Beijing Guoan foreign player 【Biera】 may return to serve the team again, but this has been rejected by many media figures. Young players such as 【Liang Shaowen, Ruan Qilong, He Xiaojian, Yan Yu】, who were loaned out this season, have mostly returned to the team and are participating in winter training, hoping to catch the eye of new coach Setien. It is still uncertain whether 【Jiang Wenhao, Li Bohan】 and others will return or continue their loans.
Beijing Guoan recently concluded the first phase of their winter training and will take a week off before heading to Haikou on January 5th to welcome Setien's arrival. They will then engage in about a month of tactical drills and lineup integration before embarking on overseas friendlies in early February.
In today's CSL, many teams' main players exhibit a polarized phenomenon, where either veterans over 28 years old hold absolute positions, or young players under 24 years old are rising within the team. Players aged between 25 and 27, from the 1997 and 1999 age groups, are mostly substitutes. For example, teams like Shanghai Port, Chengdu Rongcheng, and Shandong Taishan have a mix of old and young players in their starting lineups, with only one or two mid-career players securing a starting spot.
However, Beijing Guoan stands out as an exception, with the core of the team largely consisting of mid-career players aged between 25 and 27, such as Lin Liangming, Wang Ziming, Zhang Yuning, Yang Liyu, Cao Yongjing, Zhang Yuan, He Yupeng, Bai Yang, Feng Boxuan, Han Jiaqi, etc. Half of them were selected for Ivankovic's squad this year and are gradually shining.
Thirty-two years in the green jersey, the name of the Beijing Lions resounds throughout the CSL. The generational transition has been completed, and the pursuit of excellence lies ahead next year.