Dai Wai Tsun Explained

Dai Weijun
戴伟浚
Fullname:Dai Weijun
Birth Name:Dai Wai Tsun
Birth Date:25 July 1999
Birth Place:Hong Kong
Position:Central midfielder, Winger
Currentclub:Shenzhen Peng City (on loan from Shanghai Shenhua)
Clubnumber:23
Youthyears1:2007–2009
Youthclubs1:Eastern
Youthyears2:2009–2012
Youthclubs2:Kitchee
Youthyears3:2012–2016
Youthclubs3:Reading
Youthyears4:2016–2017
Youthclubs4:Bury
Years1:2017–2018
Clubs1:Bury
Caps1:8
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Oxford United
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2019
Clubs4:Jong FC Utrecht (loan)
Caps4:12
Goals4:0
Years5:2019–2020
Clubs5:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2020–2023
Clubs6:Shenzhen FC
Caps6:56
Goals6:6
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Shanghai Shenhua
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Years8:2024–
Clubs8:Shenzhen Peng City (loan)
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Nationalyears1:2012–2013
Nationalteam1:Hong Kong U15
Nationalyears2:2022–2023
Nationalteam2:China U23
Nationalyears3:2022–
Nationalteam3:China
Nationalcaps3:14
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:7 July 2023
Nationalteam-Update:26 January 2024
Module:
Child:yes
First:s
S:戴伟浚
T:戴偉浚
P:Dài Wěijùn
Y:Daai Wáihjeun
Showflag:y
Order:st

Dai Weijun (; born 25 July 1999), also known as Dai Wai Tsun or Tsun Dai in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, is a Hong Kong-born Chinese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chinese Super League club Shenzhen Peng City and the China national team.

Early life

Dai was born in Hong Kong and was inspired to play football by his father who once played for Hong Kong's youth teams. He started playing the sport at the young age of 4, joining Eastern's youth system for a chance to become an international footballer. Dai later joined the Hong Kong Barcelona Football academy and trained with players born in 2000.

At first, he played in a defensive midfield position and was placed under the spotlight, and was often the captain as he showed his leadership skills on the pitch. He has participated in youth matches with Hong Kong Barcelona Football Academy in Spain and Poland, and his father's support was a major factor of his youth success compared with his peers. He moved to England for a chance to get training of a higher quality,[1] and joined the Reading youth team and enrolled in Hall Grove School and then Bradfield College.

He was also called up multiple times to the Hong Kong youth squads while in England, and played in multiple international youth competitions.[2]

Career

Bury

After leaving Reading, he was invited by Bury for a trial and joined the Bury youth system under the name Tsun Dai.

2017–18 season

After the 2016–17 season, Bury announced that 11 players were leaving the club, but gave Dai his first professional contract and the number 25 shirt, making him the second Hong Kong footballer to sign a contract with an English team.[3] His first game for Bury was a pre-season start against Sunderland on 8 July 2017. He helped build the second goal for Bury that allowed them to lead 2–1 before half-time, albeit not being credited with an assist. He was substituted off in the second half, and the match ended 3–2 to Sunderland. Bury manager, Lee Clark, stated that he was satisfied with Dai's performance and that he had vast potential.[4]

On 16 July, he played his second game coming off the bench against Huddersfield Town and earned a lot of compliment for his outstanding performance. His third match and second start for Bury was against Macclesfield, and played the entire match. Although the team lost 1–0, Dai's performance further improved and impressed both the coaches of Bury and the opponent. He received a 3-year extension to his contract, which would now last to 2020.[5]

Dai made his first league appearance for Bury on 5 August 2017 in a 1–0 win against Walsall, coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute.[6] In doing so, he became the second Hong Kong footballer to appear in an English professional match and the first to do so in 55 years.[7] Dai made his first competitive start for Bury five days later in a 1–0 defeat to Sunderland in the First Round of 2017–18 EFL Cup.[8]

Dai scored his first career goal for Bury as a consolation goal during their EFL Trophy tie against Fleetwood Town.[9]

Oxford United

Dai signed for Oxford United on 9 August 2018, for an undisclosed fee, on a two-year contract.[10] He was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers a year later, again for an undisclosed fee, without having made a first-team appearance for Oxford.[11]

FC Utrecht

On 30 January 2019, Dai was loaned to FC Utrecht until the end of the season.[12] He made 12 appearances for the club in the second half of the season and recorded two assists.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 10 July 2019, Dai joined Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-23s for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.[13] He made his under-23 debut as an 87th-minute substitute in a Premier League 2 fixture against Brighton under-23s on 13 August 2019.

Shenzhen F.C.

On 16 July 2020, Wolverhampton Wanderers announced that Dai had completed a move to Chinese Super League side Shenzhen F.C.[14] He played in the first two matches of the 2020 CSL, starting in the first game and came on as substitute in the second. On 29 August 2020, Dai scored the first goal for the club in a 2-0 win against Guangzhou R&F. He was entangled in an arbitration of contract dispute with the club and didn't play for them during the first half of the 2023 Chinese Super League season.[15]

Shanghai Shenhua

On 28 June 2023, Dai joined fellow Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua on a free transfer. [16]

International career

Dai held both a Hong Kong and British passport, and was therefore eligible to represent Hong Kong or England internationally.[17]

In September 2018, Dai was called up to the preliminary squad of the Hong Kong national team.[18] Although it was initially reported that he had declined a Hong Kong call up due to injury, he later accepted a call up during the same window to a China under-21 training camp led by Guus Hiddink in Amsterdam, Netherlands.[19] Two weeks after the camp, Hong Kong manager Gary White once again named Dai in his preliminary squad for the 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifiers.[20] Following good performances in the Chinese Super League, it was reported in August 2020 that Shenzhen F.C. had begun assisting Dai with his (mainland) Chinese naturalisation application, and that Dai himself wanted to be called up for the China national football team.[21] In September 2020, he admitted in an interview that "if I had the opportunity to represent the Chinese team, I would be very honoured. My application is being processed and the club are helping me."[22] [23]

On 27 January 2022, Dai made his international debut for China against Japan in the 2022 World Cup qualifier as a substitute at the 64th minute.

Dai was named in China's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar and started the team's opening match against Tajikistan on 13 January 2024.[24]

Personal life

His father is also an avid football supporter and has played for youth teams in Hong Kong, and goes to support his son every single match. His mother, who works in Hong Kong, visits them every few months. As Dai has played for Eastern's youth squad and has supported them since a young age, he has stated that if he ever has the chance to return to play in his native Hong Kong he would only play for Eastern.[25]

Dai is multilingual. He can understand and speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, having conducted interviews in all 3 languages in the past.

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 7 July 2023.[26]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bury2017–18EFL League One80001021111
Oxford United2018–19EFL League One0000000000
Jong FC Utrecht (loan)2018–19Eerste Divisie120120
Wolverhampton Wanderers U-232019–20PL 2, Div 15050
Wolverhampton Wanderers U-212019–20PL PDL, National Div002121
Shenzhen2020Chinese Super League17100171
2021Chinese Super League19340233
2022Chinese Super League20200202
2023Chinese Super League000000
Total56640606
Shanghai Shenhua2023Chinese Super League200020
Career total83640100042928

International statistics

National team
YearAppsGoals
202270
202340
202430
Total140

Honours

Shanghai Shenhua

External links

Notes and References

  1. 【港人踢英甲】港版足球小將月薪八千 戴偉浚誓圓父子英超夢 蘋果日報 18 June 2017 (in Chinese)
  2. 港產足球小將戴偉浚獲英甲貝利職業合約 Upower 18 June 2017 (in Chinese)
  3. 2016/17 Retained List Bury Football Club 5 May 2017
  4. 【香港勁揪】17歲港足球小將踢英甲貝利正選 友賽「黑貓」獲教練大讚 蘋果日報 8 July 2017 (in Chinese)
  5. 【英甲】港將戴偉浚獲貝利續約3年 友賽踢足全場不欺場 香港01 19 July 2017 (in Chinese)
  6. Web site: Report: Shakers make the perfect start. 5 August 2017. 25 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220125043901/https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/2017/august/report-shakers-make-the-perfect-start/. dead.
  7. Web site: Porteous. James. A future star? Hong Kong teenager Dai Wai-tsun looks set to make debut in English professional football after impressing in preseason friendly. South China Morning Post. 9 July 2017 . 9 July 2017.
  8. Web site: Match Report. 12 August 2017.
  9. News: Do or Dai: Tsun scores first professional goal for Bury but struggling Shakers crash out of Checkatrade Trophy. 10 January 2018. South China Morning Post. 12 January 2018.
  10. Web site: Tsun Dai Joins The U's . Oxford United F.C. . 9 August 2018 . 9 August 2018.
  11. News: Oxford United midfielder Tsun Dai joins Wolverhampton Wanderers for undisclosed fee . Mark . Edwards . Oxford Mail . 10 July 2019 . 11 July 2019.
  12. Web site: Tsun Dai Joins Utrecht On Loan . Oxford United F.C. . 30 January 2019. 30 January 2019.
  13. Web site: Tsun Dai completes Wolves move. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.. 10 July 2019. 10 July 2019.
  14. Web site: Tsun Dai earns move to Shenzhen F.C.. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.. 16 July 2020. 18 July 2020.
  15. Web site: 中超熱話|戴偉浚欠薪案獲判勝訴 自由身轉會依然有懸念. 2023-09-06. 2023-05-26. 香港01. zh-hk.
  16. Web site: 官方:上海申花签下国脚戴伟浚,他将身披9号球衣. Dongqiudi. 28 June 2023. 29 June 2023.
  17. Web site: New Deal for Tsun Dai. Bury FC. 18 July 2017. 28 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220128221122/https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/2017/july/new-deal-for-tsun-dai/. dead.
  18. Web site: Tsun Dai Gets Hong Kong Call Up . Oxford United F.C. . 26 September 2018 . 28 September 2018.
  19. Web site: Chan . Kin-wa . The mystery of Tsun Dai: Dropped by Hong Kong but training with China Under-21s? . South China Morning Post . 10 October 2018 . 10 October 2018.
  20. Web site: White . Jonathan . Gary White names preliminary Hong Kong squad for crucial EAFF play-off against Taiwan, North Korea and Mongolia . South China Morning Post . 24 October 2018 . 24 October 2018.
  21. https://m.news.sina.com.tw/article/20200824/36129198.html
  22. https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404545384570552618#_0 写给21岁的戴伟浚:父与子的守望
  23. News: 正在辦理轉籍手續 戴偉浚:為中國上陣是榮幸. 2020-09-05. 蘋果日報. 2020-09-04. 2021-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20210621080915/https://hk.appledaily.com/sports/20200904/QY7Q3PTWWNE2VIUAXNHUWWIAJE/. dead.
  24. Web site: Group A: China PR 0-0 Tajikistan. 13 January 2024. 15 January 2024. Asian Football Confederation.
  25. Web site: 戴偉浚 之 低調外流. Fanpiece. 16 July 2017.
  26. https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/tsun-dai/ Tsun Dai