*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:04, 31 January 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:04, 10 September 2019 (UTC)
Yao Junsheng (Chinese: 姚均晟; pinyin: Yáo Jūnshèng; born 29 October 1995) is a Chinese professional footballer who currently plays as a left-footed midfielder for Zhejiang Professional.
Yao was promoted to Shandong Luneng's first team squad by Felix Magath in July 2016.[3] He was loaned to China League One side Meizhou Hakka for one season in February 2017.[4] He made his debut for Meizhou on 11 March 2017 in a 2–0 home loss against Dalian Yifang.[5] On 2 July 2017, Yao scored his first senior goal by penalty in a 1–1 away draw against Dalian Yifang.[6][7] He scored five goals in 26 appearances in the 2017 season, which ensured Meizhou Hakka's stay in the second tier for another season.[8]
Yao returned to Shandong Luneng in the 2018 season. On 4 March 2018, he made his Chinese Super League debut in a 3–0 home win over Beijing Sinobo Guoan.[9] On 13 February 2019, Yao was loaned to fellow first-tier club Tianjin Tianhai for the 2019 season.[10]
The following season he was loaned out again, this time to second tier club Zhejiang Energy Greentown where he made his debut in a league game on 24 October 2020 against Kunshan in a 2-0 victory.[11] The club would miss out on promotion through the play-offs, however On 17 March 2021, Yao joined the China League One club on a permanent basis as they renamed themselves Zhejiang Professional.[12] He would go on to establish himself as a vital member of the team as they gained promotion to the top tier at the end of the 2021 China League One season through a play-off victory against Qingdao.[13]
International career
Yao made his debut for the Chinese national team on 10 September 2019 in a 5–0 win against the Maldives, coming on as a substitute for Hao Junmin in the 80th minute.