In 2016, Huang Zhengyu was promoted to Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F first team by manager Dragan Stojković.[1] He made his senior debut on 2 July 2016 in a 4–2 home victory against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, coming on as a substitute for Lu Lin in the 87th minute.[2] Huang played six league match for Guangzhou in the 2016 season and extended his contract with the club on 7 November 2016 for five years.[3]
Huang became a regular starter for Guangzhou R&F in the 2017 season, benefitting from the new CSL regulation that at least one under-23 player must be in the starting line-up.[4] He started 29 CSL games at centre back and played 2,637 minutes in total, which was the most of all U23 players in the 2017 CSL season.[5] He was also named the best U23 player and was selected in the CSL team of the year.[6] Huang extended his contract again until the end of 2022 season on 5 December 2017.[7]
On 29 November 2020, Huang made his 100th appearance for Guangzhou R&F.[8]