The reporter reported coldly In addition to the non-naturalized Serginho and Oscar Jr., there are also players such as Hou Yongyong, Yang Mingyang, Wang Hanlong and other players who have returned from Europe or changed their doors in the Chinese Super League, and there are currently 13 players who have been naturalized or restored from overseas in the Chinese Super League, a record number. With the official announcement of Liaoning Iron Man on the 20th that Wu Xiaohai, who previously played for Vancouver Bailang, joined, this year's Chinese football naturalization tide has blown to the Central League, setting off a new "wave".

As one of the most popular naturalization target candidates in China in the past two years, after two years of waiting, Wu Xiaohai finally got what he wanted, in addition to Ye Luogui to join the Chinese League, the most important thing is that he is about to complete the naturalization process, so that the national football team can have more choices in the midfield and backfield, especially on the left wing.

Wu Xiaohai, who will turn 26 on March 5, was born in Canada, is of mixed Portuguese and Chinese descent, and his grandmother Ruan Ruigui was born in Guangdong, meeting the FIFA direct naturalization standard of direct blood within three generations. He was born in the Toronto FC youth system, and was selected by the Vancouver White Waves Club of the North American Major League in early 2020, Wu Xiaohai played for the Vancouver White Waves for a total of 5 years, of which the last 3 years are the absolute main force of the team. The 1.70-metre-tall Wu Xiaohai usually plays on the left and right wings, as a winger or full-back, but also tries to play in the midfield or forward midfield. For the national football team, what is most needed at present is a good winger with a certain strength. Wu Xiaohai, who once sat firmly in the main force in the North American Major League, has also been a popular target for domestic media and fans to call for naturalization in the past two years.

In 2022, Wu Xiaohai won the Best Local Newcomer Award in the Canadian League. Because his grandmother was born in Guangdong in the 1930s, he was born in Canada, his father is Portuguese, and his mother is Chinese, Wu Xiaohai can choose to play for Canada, Portugal, China and Chinese Taipei. In 2014, Wu Xiaohai was shortlisted for the Canadian U15 national junior team, but it was not until 2021 that he was selected for the Canadian national team again, this time with the Canadian U23 national Olympic team in the Central and North American and Caribbean Olympic men's football qualifiers. Wu Xiaohai came off the bench in all four games, and finally the Canadian U23 team lost 0-2 to Mexico in the semifinals and missed the Paris Olympics.

Wu Xiaohai played for Vancouver Bailang for 5 years, making a total of 122 appearances in the North American major league, handing over 5 goals and 8 assists. The 2022 season began in April, and he became a regular in the team, with 2 goals and 1 assist in 30 appearances in the regular season. After being relegated to the bench in the first half of the 2023 season, he returned to the main team in June, starting 16 times in 21 regular season games. It was also this season that Wu Xiaohai's performance attracted the attention of domestic fans, and there began to be calls for him to naturalize the national football team.

From the end of 2023 to the beginning of 2024, at least two Chinese Super League clubs have contacted Wu Xiaohai, and although the Canadian Football Association also intends to continue recruiting him, Wu Xiaohai himself has expressed a strong desire to play for the national football team. Both clubs are hoping to naturalise in time to reach the round of 36. However, due to quotation problems, the contract was not signed in the end.

In the 2024 season, Wu Xiaohai made 41 appearances for Vancouver Bailang and handed over 3 goals and 4 assists, helping Vancouver Bailang enter the North American Major League playoffs for two consecutive seasons. But after September, Wu Xiaohai gradually lost his main position, and only made 8 appearances in 12 games in the playoffs, including 3 starts and 5 substitutes, none of which played a full 90 minutes, during which his offensive statistics were also double zero goals and assists. After the season, Wu Xiaohai's contract with Vancouver Bailang expired and was not renewed.

In November last year, there were rumors that Chinese Super League clubs continued to maintain a strong interest in Wu Xiaohai. It was only because of the increase in naturalization targets that in the end, Serginho, Oscar Jr., Hou Yongyong, Li Ke, and Delgado became the preferred choice for Chinese Super League teams to sign naturalized players.

Although he failed to join the Chinese Super League as he wished, Wu Xiaohai finally returned to his roots and was signed by the Liaoning Iron Man Club. Wu Xiaohai, who is worth 1.5 million euros, is second only to his club teammate Congolese striker Mbenza (1.7 million euros) in the Central League. After signing Wu Xiaohai, Liaoning Ironman won the top three in the value list of the Central League and became the super favorite in the new season of the Chinese League.

It is worth mentioning that Wu Xiaohai is not the first naturalized player signed by Liaoning Iron Man in the winter window. On January 27, Liaoning Iron Man officially announced the signing of 18-year-old Canadian Chinese left-back Fang Aidong, and also said that he was actively promoting naturalization.

Fang Aidong's grandfather is an overseas Chinese in Fiji, and his grandmother was born in Guangdong, China, and is eligible for naturalization. He was born in the Vancouver Bailang Youth Academy where Wu Xiaohai played, and previously made 15 appearances for Canada's U17 national junior team, and participated in the U17 World Junior Championship Central and North American and Caribbean qualifiers in 2023, and qualified with the Canadian U17 national junior team and competed in the U17 World Junior Championship at the end of the year. Although he has already represented Canada's Under-17 team in official competitions, he can choose another team before the age of 21 according to FIFA rules. In the end, Liaoning Iron Man successfully persuaded Fang Aidong to naturalize in China, and the right-back, who only turned 19 at the end of March, will become the future hope of the national football team.

Liaoning Iron Man has successively signed Aidong and Wu Xiaohai, in addition to preparing for this season's surge, but also providing more high-quality optional talents for China's national brand. Especially the two positions, and the weak side of the national football team, if they can perform well in the new season, it will be good news for the national football team and the national youth team.