Yan Yiming (Chinese: 闫义明; born 4 February 1998) is a Chinese footballer currently playing as a forward for Zibo Cuju.

Yan Yiming
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-02-04) 4 February 1998 (age 26)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Zibo Cuju
Number 19
Youth career
2006–2009 Beijing Guoan
2009–2012 Beijing Sangao
2013–2014 Atlético Madrid
2014–2015 Torre Levante
2015–2017 Cornellà
2017–2018 Deportivo Alavés
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Deportivo Alavés B 0 (0)
2018San Ignacio (loan) 0 (0)
2019Parla (loan) 1 (0)
2019–2020 Atlético Saguntino 0 (0)
2020 Taizhou Yuanda 0 (0)
2021– Zibo Cuju 26 (1)
International career
China U18
China U19
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:01, 16 February 2023 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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Yan took an interest in sports as a child, with his father enrolling him in martial arts classes at the age of three, before joining the academy of professional football team Beijing Guoan in 2006.[1] Three years later, he was admitted to the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China football team, Beijing Sangao [zh], having stood out at trials of over 400 other players.[1]

Move to Europe

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In 2012, Yan proposed pursuing a footballing career in Europe to his father. His father was initially hesitant, but in August of the same year, Yan moved to Spain, finding a personal football coach who got him in touch with professional side Villarreal.[1] Following a trial with Villarreal, the club asked him to stay longer, and Yan's father moved from Beijing to help support his son's career in Spain.[1]

His first official club in Spain was Atlético Madrid, where he spent the 2013–14 season. He also played for Torre Levante and Cornellà, before joining then-La Liga side Deportivo Alavés in 2017.[2][3] While at Deportivo Alavés, he was loaned out to lower division sides San Ignacio and Parla.[4] Following his departure from Deportivo Alavés, he joined Atlético Saguntino on a permanent deal in November 2019.[5] He was named on the bench three times for Atlético Saguntino, but did not make an appearance for the club.[6]

Return to China

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Yan returned to China in 2020, joining China League One side Taizhou Yuanda, but did not make an appearance for the club.[7]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 16 February 2023.[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Deportivo Alavés B 2018–19 Tercera División 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
San Ignacio (loan) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Parla (loan) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Atlético Saguntino 2019–20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Taizhou Yuanda 2020 China League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Zibo Cuju 2021 14 1 1[a] 0 0 0 15 1
2022 12 0 1[a] 1 0 0 13 1
Total 26 1 2 1 0 0 28 2
Career total 27 1 2 1 0 0 29 2
  1. ^ a b Appearances in the Chinese FA Cup

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "阿拉维斯的中国新星:闫义明" [Alaves' rising Chinese star: Yan Yiming]. m.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 7 March 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  2. ^ "El Alavés incorpora a su cantera al delantero chino Yiming Yan" [Alavés incorporates the Chinese striker Yiming Yan into its academy]. elmundo.es (in Spanish). 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  3. ^ "西甲队官宣中国19岁小将加盟 国青新星签约3年" [The La Liga team officially announced that the 19-year-old Chinese teenager joined the National Youth Star and signed a 3-year contract]. sports.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  4. ^ "西媒:西班牙人签武磊是大师级操作 商业与竞技双丰收" [Western media: The Spaniard's signing of Wu Lei is a double harvest of business and competition at the master level]. new.qq.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  5. ^ "又一名中国球员加盟欧洲联赛,是为提升自己还是为回中超拿高薪?" [Another Chinese player joined the European League, is it to improve himself or to get a high salary for returning to the Super League?]. k.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 27 November 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  6. ^ Yan Yiming at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
  7. ^ "留洋小将闫义明去年已签约泰州远大,因球队原因他或成自由身" [Yan Yiming, a teenager studying abroad, signed with Taizhou Yuanda last year, and he may become a free agent due to team reasons.]. m.zqba.net (in Chinese). 20 January 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  8. ^ Yan Yiming at Soccerway