Dai Weijun faces injury again during winter training; both treatment and mental care are equally important.

Reporter Wang Wei reports. On January 22, Shenzhen New Pengcheng Football Club announced that Dai Weijun felt knee pain during training. Detailed checks confirmed a tear in the lateral meniscus of his left knee. The club’s official notice stated: To minimize future playing risks, based on medical recommendations and the player's consent, Dai Weijun completed minimally invasive surgery on January 22, with a projected six-week rehabilitation.

Dai Weijun has a deep connection with Shenzhen football. In 2020, he joined the Chinese Super League team Shenzhen JiaZhaoye. Later, he transferred to Shenhua and was loaned to Shenzhen New Pengcheng during the 2024 season. This winter transfer window, Dai Weijun renewed his ties with Shenzhen New Pengcheng by officially joining the club.

Before officially joining Shenzhen New Pengcheng during the winter window, Dai Weijun had already started personal training to gradually restore his physical condition and form. After joining the team, he dedicated himself fully to daily training, eager to improve his condition during winter training and prepare well for this year’s Chinese Super League. Unfortunately, fate was unkind, and he suffered an unexpected injury again during preseason training.

In January 2025, Dai Weijun suffered a left anterior cruciate ligament rupture during a training match with Shanghai Shenhua. He faced the injury calmly; having experienced various injuries since childhood, he was not overly emotional upon learning it was an ACL tear. He recalled, “I immediately asked the team doctor when the test results would be ready and how soon I could return to playing. I wanted to have a clear understanding.”

In the 2025 season, Dai Weijun missed all Chinese Super League matches. To better recover from his injury, he traveled to Europe for treatment. Now, having just joined Shenzhen New Pengcheng, Dai Weijun has encountered injury troubles again during winter training. For him, the most important thing now is to focus on treatment while simultaneously addressing his mental health.

After joining the team, Dai Weijun hopes to fully prepare for the league through complete winter training. Following a major injury, he needs a long period of stable performance, not only regaining physical fitness but also continuously motivating himself mentally to adapt and return steadily to league competition.

According to Shenzhen New Pengcheng’s official statement, Dai Weijun requires six weeks of rehabilitation after surgery. This means he is expected to rejoin the team by mid-March. Afterwards, he will undergo recovery under the guidance of the team doctor and rehabilitation coaches. If the recovery goes well, fans may see him back on the field at Shenzhen Stadium around May or June. “We hope Xiao Dai will be patient and take his time to heal well. We are all waiting for the best version of him to return!” expressed the Shenzhen New Pengcheng supporters.