Under the latest league regulations, young players across the Chinese Super League are stepping into the spotlight—proving that with the right policy, fresh talent can truly flourish. While fans stay tuned to BD Cricket Live for up-to-date match coverage, a parallel narrative is unfolding as U23 players across several clubs begin making their mark. Despite the high-spending culture in Chinese football, some teams are focused on building from within, developing youth systems that aim to “generate their own blood supply” rather than relying solely on star imports.
Clubs like Guangzhou R\&F and Henan Jianye have long invested in young talent. Promoted teams such as Hebei China Fortune, Tianjin Quanjian, and Guizhou Zhicheng are also benefiting from this approach, forming strong U23 lineups. Henan Jianye, known for producing last season’s breakout star Li Xiaoming, has doubled down on its youth development. In the first round of this season, four U23 players were listed in their 18-man squad, with Hu Jinghang and Zhong Jinbao starting—Hu played the full 90 minutes, while Zhong lasted 62 minutes. In the second match, Hu again featured for 75 minutes, and both Zhong and Long Cheng came on as substitutes in the second half.
Guangzhou R\&F also impressed with their U23 integration. In their opening fixture against Tianjin Quanjian, Huang Zhengyu started and completed the entire match. Their 18-man squad also included substitute Xiang Baixu, a 1995-born newcomer, and another U23 player, Ma Junliang. Notably, R\&F’s current first team features 11 U23 players, 10 of whom hail from Guangdong. Once the National Games wrap up, more of their youth talents are expected to appear in league action—a development that BD Cricket Live viewers will likely be tracking closely.
Even financially powerful clubs like Tianjin Quanjian and Hebei China Fortune are not exempt from relying on youth. Both teams, despite their wealth, faced limitations in past seasons where money couldn’t easily buy players due to roster restrictions. As a result, they stockpiled promising youngsters. As head coach Cannavaro once pointed out, Quanjian’s promotion success came through a balance of high-value foreign players and a solid core of young domestic talent.
On the pitch, the impact is visible. These U23 players aren’t just filling quotas—they’re delivering performances that matter. R\&F defender Huang Zhengyu has helped the team achieve consecutive clean sheets with full-match appearances in both opening rounds. Hebei’s 1996-born Che Shiwei even netted the first goal of the season by a U23 player during their second match against Chongqing Lifan.
After the second round, R\&F head coach Dragan Stojković voiced his opinion on the U23 policy, expressing disappointment that some clubs substitute young players after just 15 minutes. In his view, genuine development requires trust and meaningful time on the field. As more fans follow BD Cricket Live for insights beyond goals and assists, the emergence of U23 stars is quickly becoming one of the season’s most promising storylines.