Evergrande Football School's 2008 age group: Together as a flame, apart as stars in the sky

Reported by Wang Wei As a youth training echelon painstakingly developed over ten years by Evergrande Football School, the 2008-born team has achieved outstanding results in the China Youth Football League on multiple occasions, with many players being selected for various national youth teams. As the players gradually turn 18, 2026 marks the first year of their professional careers. Former teammates who once trained side by side are now embarking on different football journeys.

In terms of player destinations, currently six players are with Chinese Super League clubs. Apart from Zhang Hongfu and Buniyamin, defender Wang Gengrui joined Qingdao West Coast earlier this year. As of the 21st round of the CSL, he has made 16 appearances for the team, 15 of them as a starter, with a total playing time of 1,353 minutes. Defender Alinizar transferred to Qingdao West Coast during the summer window, making three appearances, two as a starter, totaling 125 minutes. Midfielder Liu Jiale joined Tongliang Long at the start of the season, with four appearances, two as a starter, accumulating 127 minutes. Winger Hu Xiwen transferred to Tianjin Jinmen Tiger during the summer window but has not yet played.

Wang Gengrui is currently a regular starter for Qingdao West Coast

Apart from the six players in the CSL, three others are playing in the China League Two. Qu Jiale is with Guangdong Mingtu, Han Yiheng is with Xiamen Feilu, and Yang Qiandong is registered with the Harbor B team. As of August 1, Yang Qiandong has made 17 appearances for the Harbor B team, scoring 5 goals and providing 2 assists.

More players chose to stay and join Guangdong Chenxing Chuang'erte, a CMCL club founded by Evergrande Football School. They are fully preparing for the national finals of the China Champions League, with the goal of promotion to the China League Two. These players include Liu Binglin, Pu Minjun, Wang Weixuan, Xia Ruizhi, Ma Mingze, Zhang Congxi, Li Jinlong, Luo Yiming, and others.

In addition, defender Liang Jucong joined Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee and is registered with the first team. The brothers Huang Hongkun and Huang Hongtao chose to pursue higher education and are now studying at university.

Among the various development paths, Wang Weixuan, a forward who has been selected for the national youth team multiple times, chose to stay with Guangdong Chenxing Chuang'erte to compete in the China Champions League, which is quite representative.

As a forward from the Evergrande Football School 2008 age group, his decision to stay within the school's system to pursue a spot in the China League Two is backed by the long-term encouragement and support of his father, Wang Wenxiao. In this special interview, Wang Wenxiao told reporters: "For ten full years, Evergrande Football School has witnessed Weixuan's growth. Our whole family will always remember this nurturing."

Wang Wenxiao shared a touching story from the family: "In the first China Youth Football League championship final, Wang Weixuan was seriously injured and hospitalized. The Brazilian head coach at the time led the coaching staff and teammates to the hospital to visit him, made a match highlight video for him, awarded him the best player of the match, and encouraged him to recover well. Thinking about these things now still moves me deeply."

On the field, Wang Weixuan is a never-give-up fighter, and this tenacity deeply moves his family. Recently, during the China Champions League regional competition in Yingde, Wang Weixuan was knocked down by the opposing goalkeeper in the first match against Guangzhou Zhicheng and was subsequently taken to the hospital by ambulance. "At that time, it was suspected that his neck was injured, but after examination it turned out to be not serious. However, such a situation is indeed worrying. The next day, Weixuan returned to the team and played in the second match," Wang Wenxiao said. "The path of football is too tough. Ten years of daily routine: getting up early, training, getting injured. He has endured so much at such a young age. No matter how intense the competition on the field, he never gives up, never throws tantrums, never gets stage fright, and fights until the last second. In my eyes, my son is not the most talented player on the team, but he is the one who runs the most, fights the hardest, and endures the most. Compared to goal statistics, this persistence is what our family is most proud of."

Wang Wenxiao feels for his son. Now, before matches, he tells his child: "Take every minute seriously, give it your all, and leave no regrets." After the match, he says, "Good job, awesome!" In addition, he has set up a "goal bonus" for his son.

For Wang Weixuan, who developed relatively late and has not yet made it to a higher league, Wang Wenxiao has a clear plan: "First, develop steadily in the lower leagues, play it safe and steady. That's the better choice for now. In the future, we hope he can explode."