Jintao Liao

Liao Jintao's career has moved through four clubs in six years without ever settling long at one. He started out at Wuhan Three Towns in 2019, then joined Guangzhou FC in 2020, where his early involvement was limited to two cup appearances. A loan-free move to Kunshan FC in 2022 brought the biggest team success of his career so far: the club won the China League One title that year and earned promotion to the top flight.

He returned to Guangzhou FC on a free transfer in 2023, and it was there, on 28 June that year, that he scored his first professional goal, in a 2-1 win over Jiangxi Lushan. In 2025 he moved on again, joining Dalian Yingbo — known as Dalian Zhixing at the time of his arrival — on a free transfer.

Liao's involvement with the national team has followed a similar late-blooming pattern. He was capped once for China's under-19 side in 2019, then had to wait six years for a senior call-up, making his debut for China in 2025. That year he was part of the squad that won the EAFF Championship, held in South Korea.

A defensive midfielder by trade, Liao plays with his right foot and wears the number 40 shirt at Dalian Yingbo. Born in Puning, in Guangdong province.