Foreign aid trident retained + Hong Kong player joins, Qingdao West Coast secures its foundation

Reporter Chen Yong reports For Zheng Zhi, assuming control of Qingdao West Coast wasn’t simple, particularly given the team’s consistent mid-table finishes in the last two seasons, which inevitably brought significant pressure to the new head coach. However, good news followed one after another: first, nine teams were penalized with point deductions, giving Qingdao West Coast an early advantage in the standings; then yesterday, the club officially announced Aziz’s transfer and Davidson’s contract renewal, along with Nelson Luiz, the front-line foreign aid trident remained intact, stabilizing Qingdao West Coast’s squad base.

This season, the biggest change for Qingdao West Coast is the coaching switch: Shao Jiayi took over as head coach of the national team, while Zheng Zhi became the new head coach of Qingdao West Coast. This marks Qingdao West Coast’s third season in the Chinese Super League. In the first season, the team faced relegation risks but performed strongly in the latter half, finishing 10th in the league. In the second season, Qingdao West Coast showed solid performance, maintaining a stable mid-table position and ultimately finishing 9th. After Shao Jiayi’s appointment as national team coach, combined with news of several young key players like Xu Bin, Li Hao, and Yang Xi leaving, concerns arose externally about Qingdao West Coast’s prospects for avoiding relegation in the new season.

However, following the official announcement of point deductions for nine CSL teams, Qingdao West Coast fans received reassurance yesterday. The club confirmed Aziz’s official transfer signing and Davidson’s contract extension, allowing these two key front-line foreign players to continue competing for the team. Aziz joined Qingdao West Coast on loan for the 2025 season, appearing 30 times with 29 starts, contributing 10 goals and 7 assists—both team-leading statistics. His former San Zhen teammate Davidson also delivered an excellent performance with 8 goals and 3 assists. Together, they participated in more than half of the team’s total goals.

With winger Nelson Luiz also remaining on the squad, Qingdao West Coast’s trident is fully preserved. Aziz is known for his explosive impact, Davidson is very versatile with strong breakthrough ability and currently leans towards a roaming playmaker role, while Luiz focuses on wing penetrations. Their combination ensures Qingdao West Coast’s attacking strength. In the 2025 season, Qingdao West Coast’s squad is characterized by a powerful foreign player lineup combined with a domestic team led by experienced players mentoring the younger generation, with foreign players playing a crucial role in the team’s success.

In defense and midfield, Qingdao West Coast first replaced their foreign center-back by signing Memisevic, formerly of Hebei China Fortune and Beijing Guoan. Memisevic is a well-known foreign player among fans, having played over 60 matches in the CSL between 2020 and 2022 for Hebei and Beijing Guoan, scoring 5 goals and providing 11 assists. Before that, he played for Dubai’s Al Nasr.

Besides playing center-back, Memisevic can also operate as a defensive midfielder. Qingdao West Coast’s evaluation of him is: “Memisevic is renowned as a ‘jack of all trades’ in defense, capable of handling aerial interceptions and direct defending as a center-back, while also possessing certain offensive skills and a threatening long-range shot.”

Regarding domestic players, Duan Liuyu returned to Shandong Taishan, Xu Bin transferred to Wolves, resulting in a significant midfield loss for Qingdao West Coast. Therefore, the signing of the last foreign player, a midfielder, is very important.

Additionally, a Hong Kong player has appeared in Qingdao West Coast’s training camp in Dubai—Barak, a midfielder. His presence in the team signals that his signing is nearly confirmed. Born in 1999, Barak previously played in the Israeli and Hong Kong leagues and gained eligibility to represent Hong Kong in November 2025, participating in the latest Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup. His primary positions are central midfield, attacking midfield, and defensive midfield. Meanwhile, Taiwanese player Chen Po-liang, aged 37 and formerly with Qingdao West Coast, has left the team.

Among the three highly watched Qingdao West Coast young talents, besides Xu Bin’s transfer to Wolves, Yang Xi is likely to leave, but Li Hao has a strong chance of staying. If the main goalkeeper remains, Qingdao West Coast’s overall strength in the 2026 season should not decline significantly, making the 2026 campaign’s outlook quite promising.