Wei Xiangxin
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 March 2008 | ||
| Place of birth | Meizhou, Guangdong, China[1] | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Meizhou Hakka | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2017–2018 | Meizhou Hakka | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024 | Guangdong Mingtu | 8 | (7) |
| 2025- | Meizhou Hakka | 3 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2024-2025 | China U17 | 12 | (9) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 April 2025 (UTC) | |||
Wei Xiangxin (Chinese: 魏祥鑫; born 5 March 2008) is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chinese Super League club Meizhou Hakka.
Early life
Born in Meizhou in the Chinese province of Guangdong, Wei was raised by his grandparents as his parents worked in Guangzhou and Shenzhen.[2]
Club career
Wei first took an interest in football in third grade, before joining a sports school in Wuhua County.[2] He joined the academy of Meizhou Hakka, where he played between under-10 and under-11 age groups, before representing Guangdong Mingtu at the National Games of China.[2] He remained with Guangdong Mingtu for the 2024 season of the Chinese Champions League, helping the club earn promotion to the China League Two.[3]
On 1 March 2025, Wei made his debut for Meizhou Hakka in the Chinese Super League, coming on as a late substitute for Yang Chaosheng in a 2–1 win against Henan FC.[4] In doing so, he became the first player born in 2008 to play in the league.[2] In just his second professional appearance, he scored his first goal for the club - a penalty in an eventual 2–2 draw with Zhejiang Professional on 16 April.[5] Later in the same month, he was invited to trial with Chinese-owned French club Auxerre.[6]
International career
Wei represented the China under-16 side at the Peace Cup held in Shenyang in August 2024, scoring twice against Vietnam,[7] before notching against Uzbekistan in a 2–1 win, helping his side win the competition.[8] He first rose to prominence on the international stage during 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification, helping China to qualify for the tournament proper with four goals in five games.[3]
At the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, Wei scored a consolation goal in his side's 2–1 loss to Saudi Arabia.[9] After China were knocked out of the competition in the group stage, Wei stated in an interview with the Xinhua News Agency that the experience had helped him "really feel the gap" between China and other Asian nations, and that China needed to play against strong foreign countries more often in order to "improve our skills and tactics faster and adapt to high intensity and fast pace".[10]
Career statistics
- As of 24 April 2025.[11]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Guangdong Mingtu | 2024 | Chinese Champions League | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 7 | ||
| Meizhou Hakka | 2025 | Chinese Super League | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 8 | ||
References
- ^ a b Wei Xiangxin at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c d "魏祥鑫：从小就听李惠堂的故事，我的头球和射门还需提高" [Wei Xiangxin: I have heard the stories of Li Huitang since I was a child. My heading and shooting still need to be improved.]. news.qq.com (in Chinese). 18 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ a b "魏祥鑫：从"铁猪"到国少锋线新星，踏"铭途"之路为家人撑起一片天" [Wei Xiangxin: From a "iron pig" to a rising star in the national youth striker line, he embarked on the "Mingtu" road to support his family]. sohu.com (in Chinese). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "中超青春风暴：16岁小将魏祥鑫的惊艳首秀与未来潜力" [Chinese Super League Youth Storm: 16-year-old Wei Xiangxin's stunning debut and future potential]. sports.sohu.com (in Chinese). 3 March 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "未来可期！魏祥鑫是中国顶级联赛第4年轻进球者 打进08年龄段首球" [The future is promising! Wei Xiangxin is the fourth youngest scorer in the Chinese top league and scored his first goal in the 2008 age group]. m.163.com (in Chinese). 19 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "有望留洋？曝17岁国少红星将试训法甲中资队！已在中超破门创纪录" [Will he be able to study abroad? It is revealed that the 17-year-old national youth star will try out for a Chinese-funded team in Ligue 1! He has already scored a goal in the Chinese Super League and set a record]. 163.com (in Chinese). 24 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "前教练谈国少中锋魏祥鑫：外号铁猪，踢球是想改善家里生活质量" [Former coach talks about the national youth center Wei Xiangxin: Nicknamed Iron Pig, he plays football to improve the quality of life at home]. m.163.com (in Chinese). 2 November 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "U16国少魏祥鑫：球队防守很拼命；最大收获就是学到很多东西" [U16 national youth team Wei Xiangxin: The team defended very hard; the biggest gain is that I learned a lot]. i.ifeng.com (in Chinese). 21 August 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "U17亚洲杯丨国少首战1比2沙特，魏祥鑫破门" [U17 Asian Cup: China's national team lost 1-2 to Saudi Arabia in first match, Wei Xiangxin scored]. gdfa.gd.cn (in Chinese). 4 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "与高手过招感到差距，未来要继续与高手过招——专访中国U17男足球员魏祥鑫" [I feel the gap when playing against the masters, and I will continue to play against the masters in the future - Interview with Wei Xiangxin, the Chinese U17 men's football player]. xinhuanet.com (in Chinese). 15 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ Wei Xiangxin at Soccerway