Today, the Shanghai Sharks officially announced several personnel changes, including the departure of Zhang Zhiyao, Ren Junwei, and Pan Wei. Zhang Zhiyao will be joining the Spanish league. The original announcement is as follows.
“Zhang Zhiyao is heading to the Spanish league to embark on a new chapter in his career. Several players from our team are departing this summer.
During the off-season, our club’s roster has undergone some adjustments with three players leaving upon the expiration of their contracts, setting out on new journeys in their lives.
Ren Junwei and Pan Wei have made new choices after their contracts expired. The club always respects and understands each player’s career planning, and every effort they put forth on the court has contributed to unforgettable memories for the team. We wish them continued success and the embrace of new challenges in their careers. Here, we sincerely wish them all the best in their future basketball endeavors!
After friendly negotiations with Zhang Zhiyao and receiving feedback from the coaching staff, the club has decided to agree and support his decision to join the Spanish basketball league. Next season, Zhang Zhiyao will transfer to 87 Bank Basketball Club in the Spanish third division. We encourage outstanding players to gain experience in overseas leagues, exposing them to top-tier basketball concepts worldwide, broadening their horizons, and enhancing their skills.
In August 2021, Zhang Zhiyao was promoted to the first team of the Shanghai Jiushi Sharks. Over the past two seasons, he played 14 regular-season games for our team and helped the Shanghai Jiushi U19 and U21 men’s basketball teams win national youth league championships. During these two seasons, Zhang Zhiyao trained hard, played courageously, and displayed the vigor and vitality of a young player.
For Zhang Zhiyao, going to the Spanish league is another significant change in his career and a brave attempt to pursue his basketball dreams. We sincerely hope that Zhang Zhiyao can gain more growth opportunities in his new environment and look forward to his return to the team with more mature skills and rich experience in the future.”