Cao Kang (; born 8 January 1993) is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for China League One club Shaanxi Union.
Career Early career Born in Boxing County in Binzhou, Shandong, Cao Kang moved to the city of Changzhou in Jiangsu at a young age, where he started his football journey, being in the Jiangsu provincial youth team squad that participated in the 2011 China League Two. In 2013, Cao Kang was included in Jiangsu Province's squad for the 2013 National Games of China at the under-20 level. The same year, Cao Kang gained playing experience in an off-season friendly in a 4–0 loss as he faced Russian side CSKA Moscow. In 2014, Cao was named in Jiangsu Sainty's first-team squad for the 2014 Chinese Super League season. In 2016, after Jiangsu's Chinese FA Cup win in 2015, Cao Kang was included in the club's 2016 AFC Champions League squad.
Heilongjiang Ice City On 13 March 2017, Cao Kang signed for Heilongjiang Lava Spring on loan from Jiangsu Suning. He scored his first goal for the club on 17 June 2017 in a 2–1 away league victory away at Dalian Boyoung. He helped the team clinch the 2017 China League Two title, securing promotion to China League One. On 1 March 2018, Heilongjiang Lava Spring announced that they have signed Cao Kang on a permanent basis. In the league opener on 11 March 2018, Cao Kang scored an equaliser in a 2–2 draw with eventual league runners-up Shenzhen. On 25 May 2019, Cao Kang opened the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Liaoning. On the final day of the 2019 China League One season on 2 November, Cao Kang scored a brace in a 4–1 win over Changchun Yatai to help Heilongjiang reach fourth place, the highest league position the club has reached in its history, as well as break Changchun Yatai's chances of an immediate promotion back to the Chinese Super League. On 1 July 2022, Cao Kang scored Heilongjiang Ice City's second goal in a 3–1 win over Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard. Accumulatively over his five permanent seasons at the club, Cao Kang provided seven goals in 118 appearances.
Nantong Zhiyun On 23 January 2023, Cao Kang signed for newly-promoted Chinese Super League side Nantong Zhiyun. He scored his first goal for Nantong Zhiyun on 7 July 2023, in a 1–1 away draw with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. He scored his second goal of the 2023 season on 8 August, in a 1–1 draw against Zhejiang. The following season, Cao Kang scored the only goal in a 1–0 home win over Meizhou Hakka on 5 April 2024. Cao's Nantong Zhiyun were relegated to China League One at the end of the 2024 Chinese Super League season.
Shaanxi Union On 4 February 2026, Cao joined fellow China League One club Shaanxi Union.
Style of play Cao Kang has been described by Nantong Zhiyun as having great aggressiveness and pressing, bringing defensive cover, and being capable of contributing on both sides of the pitch.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season, and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsJiangsu Youth2011China League Two120–––1202012China League Two193–––193 Total313000000313Jiangsu Suning2014Chinese Super League0000––002015Chinese Super League0000––002016Chinese Super League0000000000 Total0000000000Heilongjiang Lava Spring (loan)2017China League Two22110–50281Heilongjiang Ice City2018China League One29100––2912019China League One22420––2442020China League One140––201602021China League One19100––1912022China League One32100––321 Total11672000201207Nantong Zhiyun2023Chinese Super League28220––3022024Chinese Super League27200––2722025China League One27000––270 Total824200000844 Career total2511550007026315
Honours Heilongjiang Lava Spring China League Two: 2017
References
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