Three domestic signings confirmed! Liaoning Ironmen’s recruitment blossoms on multiple fronts, with more announcements expected around New Year’s Day.

Special contributor/Shen Jun With the Chinese Super League teams starting winter training in succession, newly promoted Liaoning Ironmen have been busy in the winter transfer window, finalizing the addition of domestic players Li Tixiang, Tian Ziyi, and Dilimulati over the past few days. The club is also pushing forward with signing both domestic and foreign players to boost their strength for the new CSL campaign. On December 28, the team will gather in Hainan to begin the first phase of winter training, laying a solid foundation for their upcoming CSL journey.

Liaoning Ironmen’s domestic recruitment focuses on strengthening the midfield and defense, with their first signing being the experienced veteran midfielder Li Tixiang. This acquisition not only addresses the team’s midfield coordination gap but also brings valuable CSL experience. Born in 1989, Li Tixiang came through Beijing Guoan’s youth system and has played for several clubs including Portugal’s Tondela, Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, and Guangzhou R&F (now Guangzhou City), accumulating a rich career resume. During his six seasons at Guangzhou R&F, he made 129 appearances, scoring 2 goals and providing 11 assists; after joining Zhejiang, he featured in 103 matches over three years, delivering 1 goal and 19 assists. In the 2025 season, at age 36, Li Tixiang maintained a high level of performance, starting 29 games for Zhejiang and logging 2565 minutes, ranking sixth among domestic players in CSL playing time.

Notably, Li Tixiang and Liaoning Ironmen’s head coach Li Jinyu previously worked together for half a year at Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, a mentor-mentee relationship that played a key role in this reunion. “Coach Li Jinyu once changed the trajectory of my football career. Now having the chance to work together again, I hope to deliver exciting performances for the fans,” said Li Tixiang with great anticipation. His refined technique, broad vision, and precise long passes are expected to inject fresh qualities into the young Liaoning Ironmen squad.

After securing the midfield, Liaoning Ironmen quickly reinforced their defense. On December 22, the club announced the signing of defender Tian Ziyi from Dalian, injecting new energy into the backline. Born in 2001 and standing 1.86 meters tall, Tian boasts excellent physical attributes. He has played for Shenzhen and Meizhou Hakka in the CSL and has been repeatedly selected for the U20 national team. Over the past three seasons, Tian steadily developed in the CSL, accumulating 49 appearances, including 16 games with 1 goal for Meizhou Hakka in 2024. He combines solid defensive skills with active offensive involvement, possesses good ball distribution and game reading ability, and can operate in multiple defensive positions. His arrival will effectively deepen the team’s defensive options and tactical flexibility.

On the 26th, Liaoning Ironmen further bolstered their defense by announcing the signing of defender Dilimulati Maolaniyazi, upgrading their backline once more. Born in 1998, the Xinjiang native came through the Xinjiang Tianshan Snow Leopards youth system and has competed in both China League One and the CSL, representing clubs such as Chongqing Dangdai, Henan (formerly Henan Jianye), and Yunnan Yukun. In 2024, Dilimulati helped Yunnan Yukun win the China League One title and secure promotion, contributing 2 assists in 24 appearances; in 2025, he remained a consistent presence in the CSL with 23 appearances and 2 goals. Additionally, he has represented China’s U23 national team in the U23 Asian Cup, bringing international experience. Known for his tough style and defensive focus, his excellent positioning and tactical discipline will inject new vitality into Liaoning Ironmen’s defensive system, complementing Tian Ziyi and further solidifying the backline.

According to current information, Liaoning Ironmen will continue to announce more domestic signings around the New Year.

Regarding foreign players, last season’s top scorer and Congolese forward Mbemba, who still has one year left on his contract, will continue to play for the team in the 2026 CSL season, providing steady firepower upfront. Meanwhile, negotiations for renewing the contract of Japanese foreign player Yoshihiro Bonmoto, last season’s China League One assist leader, are ongoing without a definite outcome yet; Brazilian foreign player Felipe’s contract has expired, and his future with the club remains uncertain. The club has started scouting and negotiating new foreign players, with related announcements expected in January 2026.

While transfer activities proceed smoothly, the team’s winter training preparations are fully underway. On December 28, Liaoning Ironmen will regroup in Hainan after the holiday break to begin the first phase of winter training. This stage will primarily focus on domestic players, with the core objective being physical recovery to build a solid base for subsequent tactical and technical training. Once foreign players are confirmed, they will join the team during the second phase of winter training next year to complete squad integration.

From the seasoned veteran midfielder Li Tixiang, to the promising young defender Tian Ziyi, and the capable immediate-impact player Dilimulati, Liaoning Ironmen’s winter window signings precisely match the team’s needs. They not only address lineup weaknesses but also achieve a reasonable blend of youth and experience. For this newly promoted team, the 2026 CSL season will be challenging, but the club’s proactive recruitment strategy and solid winter training preparations demonstrate their determination to establish themselves in the CSL and strive for good results.