In 2021, as a 16-year-old,[3] Yu Jinyong was named in Shandong Taishan's 35-man squad for the upcoming 2021 Chinese Super League season.[4] He failed to make a single appearance during the season,[5] but followed the team to a Chinese Super League title, the club's first in eleven years.[6]
In August 2023, Yu Jinyong went on trial to Belgian club Royal Charleroi under the recommendation of then-teammate Marouane Fellaini, who dubbed him as a "little Courtois", but he had since returned to China.[7]
On 5 April 2024, he was named in China's final squad of the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[10] On 16 April 2024, in China's first group stage match against Japan, he came on as a substitute for Duan Dezhi in the 88th minute of the game, as a striker.[11] In a post-match interview, China U23 head coach Cheng Yaodong claimed that the substitution had previously been envisioned in his tactics.[12]
Personal life
Yu Jinyong was born to his father Yu Ming, a former Liaoning and Chinese international footballer, and his mother, Hu Jie, a Chinese former volleyball player.[3]
^"国青赴乌兹别克斯坦参加U20亚洲杯 小组出线成奢望" [The national youth team goes to Uzbekistan to participate in the U20 Asian Cup] (in Chinese (China)). Sohu. 23 February 2023.
^"男足国奥队参加卡塔尔U23亚洲杯名单公布" [The men's Olympic football team's roster for the U23 Asian Cup in Qatar is announced]. sports.xinhuanet.com (in Chinese). 5 April 2024.
