The dream collaboration between two of the world’s top volleyball stars has yet to come to fruition.
The most eagerly awaited collaboration in women’s volleyball between Paola Egonu and Li Yingying will not happen, at least in the next season. After a prolonged medical evaluation, China’s top outside hitter did not meet the physical fitness requirements and had to postpone her plan to join Vero Volley Milano.
This was confirmed by the top Serie A1 club in an official announcement released on December 21. Li Yingying has returned to China to continue treating her injury and regaining fitness, despite earlier hopes that she would be a crucial part of Vero Volley Milano’s ambitions to win domestic and European titles.
In the statement, the Italian club explained that the decision followed a series of intensive medical examinations in recent weeks. The results showed that Li Yingying still has some physical issues that require more time for assessment and specialized treatment. With the consensus of Vero Volley Milano, her agency Gold Sport, and her home club Tianjin Bohai Bank, the highest priority is the athlete’s health and long-term future.
Regarding her decision, Li Yingying expressed regret but also emphasized that it was necessary for her career: “The medical team at Vero Volley Milano determined that I still need additional time to treat and recover from some injuries. After thorough discussions with both clubs and considering my long-term career, I decided to return home to focus on rehabilitation. I will strictly follow the treatment plan and work hard to return to the court in the best possible condition.”
China’s top outside hitter did not meet the physical criteria to join Vero Volley Milano.
Li Yingying suffered a severe ankle injury in February during the Chinese National Championship. Although she returned to compete at the World Championship and National Games, her performance was not considered to be at its best. This forced Vero Volley Milano to be cautious, especially as the club pursues long-term goals in Serie A1 and the CEV Champions League.
In fact, the signing of Li Yingying was viewed as an ambitious move by Vero Volley Milano. If completed, she would become the first Chinese player in the club’s history and one of the rare Asian stars competing in Italy’s top league—one of the world’s most prestigious competitions. With an impressive resume including seven Chinese national championships, multiple MVP awards, and international medals with the national team, Li Yingying was expected to add tactical variety and formidable attacking strength.
Notably, fans dreamed of the “dream pairing” between Li Yingying and Paola Egonu—the world’s leading opposite hitter, Italy’s star player, and a symbol of modern women’s volleyball power. Egonu, with a jump reach of 3.44 meters and spikes exceeding 100 km/h, is regarded as one of the greatest scorers ever. The combination of Egonu’s power and Li Yingying’s technique and consistency promised to form one of Europe’s most fearsome offensive lines.
Although this major transfer is temporarily off, the opportunity remains open. With goodwill from Vero Volley Milano and Li Yingying’s commitment to recovery, the possibility of restarting negotiations by mid-2026 is considered entirely feasible.
Links
Contact
Address：UNIT 1804 SOUTH BANK TOWER, 55 UPPER GROUND,LONDON ENGLAND SE1 9E
Number：+85259695367
E-mali：icecmxtdaf@gmail.com
App
