Full name Zhang Yuning Name Zhang Yuning Current team Vitesse | Playing position Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | |
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Date of birth (1997-01-05) 5 January 1997 (age 19) Place of birth Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China | ||
Zhang Yuning (simplified Chinese: 张玉宁; traditional Chinese: 張玉寧; pinyin: Zhāng Yùníng; born 5 January 1997) is a Chinese footballer who currently plays as a striker for Werder Bremen on loan from West Bromwich Albion and for the China national team.
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Club career
Zhang Yuning started his football career when he joined Hangzhou Greentown's youth academy in 2008. Due to several good performances for the academy, he was called up to the Chinese national under-17 team for the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship and scored two goals in three matches during the tournament. During the 2015 season, he was promoted to the club's first team, making his debut and scoring his first senior goal for the club on 13 May 2015 in a 1–1 draw against amateur team Wuhan Hongxing in the 2015 Chinese FA Cup.
On 1 July 2015, Zhang transferred to Eredivisie side Vitesse, signing a two-year contract with the club. He made his debut for the club on 13 February 2016 in a 3–0 win against SC Heerenveen, coming on as a substitute for Valeri Qazaishvili in the 86th minute. On 6 March 2016, he scored his first goal by heading in a Guram Kashia cross in the injury time in a 2–1 win against Roda JC. He scored his second goal of the season on 8 May 2016 in a 2–2 draw against Twente.
Zhang was given the number 9 shirt for the 2016–17 season. However, he mainly played as a back-up for Dutch international Ricky van Wolfswinkel throughout the season. On 26 October 2016, he scored the opening goal in the second round of 2016–17 KNVB Cup against RKC Waalwijk, which Vitesse won 4–1. He scored his first and the only league goal of the season on 3 December 2016 in a 3–1 home win over PEC Zwolle. On 31 March 2017, Zhang extended his contract with Vitesse until 30 June 2018. He was an unused substitute as Vitesse beat AZ 2–0 in the KNVB Cup final on 30 April 2017.
On 3 July 2017, Zhang signed for Premier League side West Bromwich Albion on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee and was immediately loaned to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for two years.
International career
Zhang made his debut for the Chinese national team on 3 June 2016 in a 4–2 win against Trinidad and Tobago, scoring twice and assisting a goal.
International goals
As of 3 June 2016 Scores and results list China's goal tally first.Club
As of 28 June 2017Club
Personal life
Zhang comes from a devout Christian family and has stated that Kaká is his footballing role model.