Official announcement of Zhou Dingyang! Shenzhen New Pengcheng completes signing of 9 new players, with the central axis nearly upgraded, only missing a foreign central defender?

Reporter Wang Wei reports On the afternoon of January 13, Chinese Super League club Shenzhen New Pengcheng officially announced that Zhou Dingyang joined from Chengdu Rongcheng on a free transfer. The arrival of this powerful midfielder brings Shenzhen New Pengcheng’s central axis close to completion for the new season.

Zhou Dingyang’s fighting spirit and playing style have earned him many fans during his time at Henan and Chengdu Rongcheng. His signing not only strengthens Shenzhen New Pengcheng’s midfield but also enhances the club’s presence in the Chinese Super League.

So far, Shenzhen New Pengcheng has officially announced the acquisition of 9 new players, and their upgrade efforts are still ongoing!

After his contract with Chengdu Rongcheng expired at the end of last season, Zhou Dingyang received offers from multiple clubs. Although he initially preferred to stay in Chengdu, New Pengcheng’s sincerity eventually won him over. On January 12, Zhou Dingyang posted a farewell letter to Chengdu Rongcheng fans on his social media. In the letter, he emotionally expressed, “It’s time to say goodbye for now. This has been the toughest decision of my life, but I believe this moment is the right time for both the club and myself to start a new chapter and face new challenges. Four years ago, I was fortunate to join this special club and instantly fell in love with the city of Chengdu and its people.”

In his farewell letter, Zhou Dingyang recalled unforgettable moments at Chengdu Rongcheng and summarized, “The past four years have been the most wonderful and exciting journey of my life. I can leave with my head held high because I know I have given my all for this club, this city, and these amazing fans.”

Zhou Dingyang, 31 years old, was born in the UK, stands 1.80 meters tall, and plays as a midfielder. He joined Shenzhen New Pengcheng under the Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan player quota. He came through the Wigan Athletic youth system and played early in his career in leagues in England, Scotland, and Serbia. In 2019, Zhou joined the Chinese Super League club Henan Jianye and moved to Chengdu Rongcheng three years later. Over the past four seasons, he made 125 appearances for Chengdu Rongcheng, scoring 21 goals and providing 13 assists.

More than his goals and assists, Zhou Dingyang’s tireless running has left a deeper impression on fans, especially as captain of Chengdu Rongcheng where he consistently demonstrated leadership on the pitch. This versatile midfielder is efficient and pragmatic, with excellent running and interception skills, often topping the Chinese Super League distance covered charts. On the field, Zhou possesses strong mental attributes and a fighting spirit. He has now arrived in Shenzhen and will soon join team training.

On January 13, Zhou Dingyang, who came to the club for his signing photoshoot, said: “I’m very happy to join the Shenzhen New Pengcheng family and be part of this exciting new project. From this moment, I look forward to preparing actively with my new teammates and welcoming the new season. I sincerely thank the club management and the city’s football group for their trust. Let’s work hard together and strive for success!”

Shenzhen New Pengcheng’s Sports Director Daniel Stanz said: “We are delighted that Zhou Dingyang ultimately chose to join Shenzhen New Pengcheng. His track record speaks for itself. After years of experience in the Chinese Super League, Zhou has proven to be a key player with leadership qualities who can boost team spirit and cohesion both on and off the field.”

After the 2025 season, Shenzhen New Pengcheng made significant moves, updating their squad to strengthen the team and avoid the last-minute relegation battles of the past two seasons. Following last season’s conclusion, New Pengcheng officially announced the departure of players whose contracts expired, including Dugalić, Edu García, De Leónso, An Yongjia, Zhang Yudong, Li Zhi, Zhao Shi, Zhang Wei, and Wang Qiao. On January 4 this year, they announced the signing of eight new players: Owusu, Ademi, Dai Weijun, Xiadalong, Yao Junsheng, Li Long, Tian Yifan, Hu Jiajin, and renewed contracts with Yu Rui and Jiang Zhipeng.

Looking at the current squad, the strength of the midfield and forward lines has improved. Foreign wingers Owusu and Ademi, with extensive CSL experience, bring strong individual skills and will form a front three with the highly capable striker Wesley. Recently recovered Dai Weijun joined Shenzhen New Pengcheng, and his midfield skills are also promising. Zhou Dingyang’s arrival directly boosts the team’s strength in the defensive midfield role. Next, under head coach Chen Tao, Shenzhen New Pengcheng will conduct winter training preparations, starting with fitness conditioning followed by tactical and technical drills.

Up to now, Shenzhen New Pengcheng has announced the signing of 9 new players. The team currently has four foreign players and one foreign player slot remaining. After the departure of foreign central defender Dugalić at the end of last year, who recently joined China League One’s Shenzhen Youth, the team’s tactical setup suggests that the last foreign player may come from the central defender position to fill the vacancy left by Dugalić’s exit.