Yang Qiandong applies for arbitration to become a "free agent," while Evergrande Football School seeks to "protect" its rights

Reported by Wang Wei Player poaching, conflicts, and arbitration are annual occurrences in Chinese football, and now the spotlight is on the youth training squad of Evergrande Football School. On February 4th, Yang Qiandong, who just turned 18 and was developed by Evergrande Football School, filed a dispute resolution request with the CFA Dispute Resolution Committee, seeking a decision to declare him a free agent. Prior to this, on February 3rd, Evergrande Football School, through its legal representatives, officially sent a lawyer’s letter to Yang Qiandong and his guardians, also copying in Shanghai Port Football Club. This special "poaching" case involving an elite youth player has formally entered 2026 Chinese football via industry arbitration.

Yang Qiandong is one of the outstanding players born in 2008 trained by Evergrande Football School. He joined the school in 2017 and has been selected multiple times for the U15, U16, and U17 national youth teams. He participated in the 2023 EAFF U15 Championship and represented China’s U17 men's team in the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers last year, earning playing time.

In the dispute resolution application Yang Qiandong submitted to the Chinese Football Association, he bases his claim on the "Evergrande Football School Elite Football Player Training Agreement" signed on September 1, 2017, jointly by himself and his legal guardian. According to the agreement, the training period lasts until he reaches 18 years of age.

Yang Qiandong’s request in the dispute resolution is for Evergrande Football School to issue a "free agent certificate" for him. His stated facts and reasons are: he turned 18 on January 1, 2026, so the training agreement has naturally expired as per its terms. Based on relevant CFA regulations, he hereby requests Evergrande Football School to provide him with the "free agent certificate."

On February 3rd, Evergrande Football School issued a stern public letter on its official WeChat account, accusing certain intermediaries of "obstructing our players from signing with our controlling club and, without our permission, disregarding the terms of our training agreements by offering players to professional clubs and stating intentions to forcibly take them away."

The public letter from Evergrande Football School did not mention player names, agents, or clubs, but on February 9th, the school disclosed information explicitly naming Yang Qiandong and Shanghai Port Football Club, effectively targeting Yang directly and sending a warning to others.

Regarding the arbitration initiated by Yang Qiandong, Evergrande Football School asserts two main claims: "First, the right of first refusal to sign: according to CFA regulations and previous contracts, after the elite player training contract expires, the original training institution holds the priority right to sign the player. Yang Qiandong, as a long-term elite player trained by the school, represents a significant investment (conservatively estimated at 1 million yuan), and the school has the contractual right to prioritize renewing his contract.

Second, compensation for breach of contract: Yang Qiandong turned 18 on January 1 this year, yet neither he nor his parents communicated future plans through official channels with the school. Instead, they contacted other clubs via unofficial means, seriously violating the contract spirit. Additionally, the school strongly condemns Shanghai Port Football Club for arranging trials and advancing signing procedures without any formal communication with the player’s training institution."

In the lawyer’s letter previously sent by Evergrande Football School’s legal representatives, it states: according to relevant regulations and the training agreement, Evergrande Football School lawfully holds the first right to sign Yang Qiandong to a work contract and the priority to renew, which should be fully respected and protected. However, Yang Qiandong not only refused to sign with the club designated by Evergrande Football School but also signed with a third-party club without prior notice or consent, seriously infringing on Evergrande Football School’s legitimate rights and causing economic losses.

In view of this, Evergrande Football School’s lawyers sent a letter to Yang Qiandong and his guardians demanding: they must immediately contact Evergrande Football School upon receipt of this letter and sign the relevant player work contract with Guangdong Morning Star Jvli Football Club Limited within the deadline set by the school; simultaneously, they must promptly terminate any contracts signed with third-party clubs, properly handle related follow-up matters, and bear all associated costs; Evergrande Football School also reserves the right to take further legal actions regarding the player’s conduct.

Yang Qiandong belongs to the 2008 age group at Evergrande Football School. This group, which has won runner-up in the China Youth League and the 2025 China Youth Elite League (U17) national championship, will turn 18 this year. Since Evergrande currently lacks a professional league club connection, many national youth players and top talents in this age group face the risk of being "poached."

From many perspectives, Evergrande Football School is a very unique football academy. Due to the former Guangzhou team’s situation, its relationship with elite youth players is in a special transitional phase. Before Guangzhou team’s dissolution, Evergrande Football School served as the talent pool for the eight-time Chinese Super League champions. Now, the elite youth players trained there face entering the professional stage without a strong "parent club" to receive them.

Evergrande Football School has established Guangdong Morning Star Jvli Club, planning to compete in the 2026 China League Two season with the goal of promotion to China League One, thus completing the professional league connection. The main participants planned for the team are players from the 2008 age group. However, it is foreseeable that many players in this group will be unwilling to follow the school’s arrangement to start from the lower-tier Morning Star team. Yang Qiandong’s arbitration marks the first time a conflict with Evergrande Football School has been formally taken to arbitration, and its outcome will likely set a precedent and regulatory example for future players and third-party clubs.

On the 10th, a reporter contacted Yang Qiandong’s guardian, Mr. Yang, who said: “Yang Qiandong has trained and lived at Evergrande Football School for many years, and we are grateful for the school’s development of him. I have told Yang Qiandong that no matter where he plays in the future, he should always remember the nurturing he received here. Yang Qiandong also told me he will never forget Evergrande Football School’s support and is thankful to the school.”