"Full 90 minutes in his debut, Xu Bin's overseas start meets expectations"

Written by Han Bing Arriving at Wolves on January 25, Xu Bin made his overseas debut 14 days later. Moving straight from the U23 Asian Cup to training with Wolves' U21 team, he was unaffected by the long journey. On February 7, Xu Bin started wearing the number 6 shirt and played the full game as Wolves U21 were overturned 3-4 by Ipswich U21.

Xu Bin’s overseas career got off to a promising start. Wolves' physical testing data shows his overall strength surpasses the first team average, though his speed still has room for improvement. Originally scheduled to debut on January 30, poor pitch conditions at Newcastle United’s away game led to an indefinite postponement, delaying his first appearance until February 7.

Xu Bin’s debut for Wolves U21 came in the Premier League 2, the highest level for U21 youth football. This season features 29 teams competing in a Swiss-system format similar to the Champions League. Each team plays 20 rounds in the league phase, with the top 16 advancing to knockout stages. After 14 rounds, Wolves U21, having played 3 fewer matches, sit 14th with 18 points, aiming to finish in the top 12 to qualify for next season’s Premier League International Cup.

Wolves placed great emphasis on Xu Bin’s debut, featuring him prominently on the pre-match starting lineup poster. Wearing number 6, Xu Bin took the field as some Chinese fans attended to watch. Their opponents, Ipswich U21, ranked 4th in Premier League 2, were a strong side. Despite light rain and less-than-ideal weather, Xu Bin showed no nerves and quickly settled in. Within 2 minutes, he pressed high, forcing a backline error from Ipswich, enabling teammate Angel to score a dream start. At the 27th minute, after Wolves’ Gonzalez scored the third goal, Xu Bin celebrated with his scoring teammates.

For most of the match, Xu Bin focused on defense. His interceptions and tackles stood out, though his passing lacked coordination and accuracy still needs improvement. Due to limited attacking support from Wolves U21, he rarely advanced forward to join attacks. In the second half, Wolves became more passive; after conceding to make it 3-3, they adopted a more defensive approach. Towards the end, Xu Bin, fatigued, committed a foul that earned him his first yellow card abroad. Ultimately, Wolves U21 lost 3-4 after leading by two goals and remain 14th. Overall, Xu Bin’s debut performance met expectations.

After facing Ipswich U21, Xu Bin is expected to represent Wolves U21 again on February 10 in the final group match of the Premier League International Cup against Ligue 1 powerhouse Monaco U21. The International Cup features the top 16 teams from Premier League 2 facing 16 elite U21 teams from other European leagues. The 32 teams are divided into 4 groups, with the top 2 from each advancing to knockouts. Although Wolves cannot progress, having already played against European giants Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, and PSV Eindhoven U21, this last match against Monaco U21 will be a valuable experience for Xu Bin.

However, on February 10 in the PDL2 league, Barnsley U21 will face Fleetwood U21, and Xu Bin, currently on loan at Barnsley, might also participate. Barnsley U21 compete in the PDL2 (Professional Development League 2), which is a lower level than Premier League 2, with lower league quality and match standards. Barnsley U21 currently rank 17th and are unlikely to reach the top 8 playoff spots for promotion or relegation. Therefore, the development value for Xu Bin at Barnsley U21 is naturally less than at Wolves U21.

It is worth noting that Barnsley, where Xu Bin is on loan, has Chinese investment. Since 2017, American-Chinese businessman Li Jian has led an American consortium controlling Barnsley. Li Jian also has investments in nine other clubs including Nice, Nancy, Kaiserslautern, and Thun. Wang Bohao’s overseas club Den Bosch in the Dutch second division is also part of Li Jian’s investment portfolio.

Originally, Wolves hoped Xu Bin would get more playing time in League One after being loaned to Barnsley. However, Barnsley currently rank 14th in League One, with two games in hand, six points clear of the relegation zone but 11 points behind the promotion places. Competition for midfield spots in the first team is fierce. Whether Xu Bin gets opportunities in League One depends on whether his performances satisfy the first team coach.