Yan took an interest in sports as a child, with his father enrolling him in martial arts classes at the age of three, before joining the academy of professional football team Beijing Guoan in 2006.[1] Three years later, he was admitted to the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China football team, Beijing Sangao [zh], having stood out at trials of over 400 other players.[1]
Move to Europe
In 2012, Yan proposed pursuing a footballing career in Europe to his father. His father was initially hesitant, but in August of the same year, Yan moved to Spain, finding a personal football coach who got him in touch with professional side Villarreal.[1] Following a trial with Villarreal, the club asked him to stay longer, and Yan's father moved from Beijing to help support his son's career in Spain.[1]
His first official club in Spain was Atlético Madrid, where he spent the 2013–14 season. He also played for Torre Levante and Cornellà, before joining then-La Liga side Deportivo Alavés in 2017.[2][3] While at Deportivo Alavés, he was loaned out to lower division sides San Ignacio and Parla.[4] Following his departure from Deportivo Alavés, he joined Atlético Saguntino on a permanent deal in November 2019.[5] He was named on the bench three times for Atlético Saguntino, but did not make an appearance for the club.[6]
^"西甲队官宣中国19岁小将加盟 国青新星签约3年" [The La Liga team officially announced that the 19-year-old Chinese teenager joined the National Youth Star and signed a 3-year contract]. sports.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^"西媒：西班牙人签武磊是大师级操作 商业与竞技双丰收" [Western media: The Spaniard's signing of Wu Lei is a double harvest of business and competition at the master level]. new.qq.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^"又一名中国球员加盟欧洲联赛，是为提升自己还是为回中超拿高薪？" [Another Chinese player joined the European League, is it to improve himself or to get a high salary for returning to the Super League?]. k.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 27 November 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^"留洋小将闫义明去年已签约泰州远大，因球队原因他或成自由身" [Yan Yiming, a teenager studying abroad, signed with Taizhou Yuanda last year, and he may become a free agent due to team reasons.]. m.zqba.net (in Chinese). 20 January 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
