Hong Wan Explained

Hong Wan
Fullname:Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan[1]
Birth Date:17 August 2000
Birth Place:Croydon, England[2]
Currentclub:Johor Darul Ta'zim
Clubnumber:6
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:2006–2017
Youthclubs1:Charlton Athletic
Youthyears2:2017–2019
Youthclubs2:Yeovil Town
Youthyears3:2019–2021
Youthclubs3:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Years1:2019–2021
Clubs1:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2020
Clubs2:Varaždin (loan)
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2021–
Clubs3:Johor Darul Ta'zim
Caps3:39
Goals3:0
Club-Update:17 December 2023

Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan (; born 17 August 2000), commonly known as Hong Wan,[3] is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Malaysia Super League side Johor Darul Ta'zim.

Early life

Hong Wan was born to a Malaysian mother and an English-Chinese father in Croydon, England.[4] [5] His mother is from Tangkak, Johor, Malaysia[6] while his father was born in Beihai, Guangxi, China.[7]

He started playing football when he was two-and-a-half years old,[8] and was scouted by Arsenal, Charlton and Crystal Palace in his first tournament. He joined Charlton Athletic Academy at the age of six.

Club career

Hong Wan came through the academy of Charlton Athletic,[9] before joining Yeovil Town in 2017. He was the captain of the under-18 squad,[9] however, he failed to make a senior appearance for the club.[4]

In 2019, Hong Wan signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers on a permanent deal.[10] In July 2019, he joined the senior team for a friendly tournament in China, Premier League Asia Trophy.[11] Wolves won the tournament with Hong Wan coming on as a substitute in two matches against Newcastle United and Manchester City.[12]

In early 2020, he was loaned to Croatian side Varaždin, but made no senior appearances due to the COVID-19 pandemic before returning to Wolves four months later.[13] [14] Despite failing to make any Premier League appearance for Wolves, he managed to make 21 appearances for the club's under-23 team in the 2020–21 Premier League 2 Division 2.

On 30 June 2021, Hong Wan joined Malaysia Super League side Johor Darul Ta'zim on a free transfer,[5] because he saw it as an opportunity to develop as a player and play at a high level. He made his competitive debut with JDT in the 2022 Piala Sumbangsih, the Malaysian super cup competition, coming on as a 90th-minute substitute.[15] On 4 March 2022, Hong Wan made his league debut in the first round of the 2022 Malaysia Super League against Penang.[16]

International career

Due to his place of birth and parents' origin, Hong Wan is eligible to represent England, Malaysia, and China internationally.[17]

In March 2022, he was called up to the Malaysia national football team training camp, ahead of friendly matches against the Philippines, Singapore, and Albirex Niigata Singapore.[18] However, he did not make it to the final 25-man squad due to lack of fitness.[19] [20]

Personal life

Hong Wan's father moved from China to England at the young age and his mother moved to England from Malaysia in her twenties to pursue her studies.[8]

Hong Wan received his Malaysian passport and identity card in 2021 after joining Johor Darul Ta'zim.[21] [22]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s2019–200000
2020–211010
Total1010
Johor Darul Ta'zim2021Malaysia Super League00000000
2022Malaysia Super League13060404010280
2023Malaysia Super League260603150401
Total390120719010681
Career total390120719020691

Honours

Johor Darul Ta'zim

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan Midfielder, Profile & Stats Premier League . premierleague.com . 7 February 2022 . en.
  2. Web site: Hong Wan . worldfootball.net . 7 February 2022 . en.
  3. Web site: From Wolves to Johor: Get to know JDT's new signing, Hong Wan Astro SuperSport . en . 20 March 2022. YouTube. [Nathaniel] is my English name but I don't tend to use that, I just use Hong..
  4. Web site: Nash . Tim . 2019-05-23 . Wan looking to win for Wolves after signing . 2021-12-17 . 18 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211218001030/https://www.wolvesbite.com/2019/05/wan-looking-to-win-for-wolves-after-signing/. Wolves Bite . en-US.
  5. Web site: 2021-01-30 . Wolves' Shio set to give JDT more bite New Straits Times . 2021-12-18 . NST Online . en.
  6. Web site: Hashim . Firdaus . 2021-06-30 . Hong Wan akui JDT setanding kelab EPL . 2022-03-04 . Harian Metro . en.
  7. Web site: 温绍康:希望为中国国家队踢球,家人一定会非常支持_竞彩波经_比分盘口_华体网. zh . 2022-03-04 . nb.sportscn.com.
  8. Web site: From Wolves to Johor: Get to know JDT's new signing, Hong Wan Astro SuperSport . 4 March 2022 . en . YouTube . My father moved from China to England when he was quite young [...] [my mother] moved to England when she was in her twenties. [...] she was studying and working part-time and then come over..
  9. Web site: Spiers . Tim . Wolves snap up promising youngster Hong Wan . shropshirestar.com . 4 March 2022 . en . 24 May 2019.
  10. Web site: Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Yeovil Town youngster Hong Wan. 23 May 2019. SomersetLive. 7 February 2022.
  11. Web site: 00后英超华裔小将加盟马来西亚球队 曾表示想为中国队效力_温绍康 . 8 March 2022 . sohu.com . zh .
  12. Web site: Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan Johor Darul Ta'zim videos, transfer history and stats – SofaScore . 8 March 2022 . sofascore.com.
  13. Web site: Squad of NK Varazdin – Season 2020 . 18 December 2021 . besoccer.com . en.
  14. Web site: 19 February 2020 . Official: Wolves confirm 26th loan departure of the season . 17 December 2021 . Vital Wolverhampton Wanderers . en.
  15. Web site: 2022 Piala Sumbangsih . cms.fam.org.my . 5 March 2022.
  16. Web site: Johor Darul Ta'zim vs. Pulau Pinang – 4 March 2022 . Soccerway . 4 March 2022.
  17. Web site: I'm open to playing for Malaysia, says Wolves youngster Hong Wan . 2021-12-18 . english.stadiumastro.com.
  18. Web site: SIARAN MEDIA: SENARAI 30 PEMAIN KE KEM LATIHAN PUSAT HARIMAU MALAYA BERMULA 14 MAC 2022 FAM . 10 March 2022 . fam.org.my.
  19. Web site: SENARAI 25 PEMAIN SKUAD HARIMAU MALAYA KE FAS TRI-NATIONS SERIES 2022 DI SINGAPURA FAM . 2022-03-21 . fam.org.my.
  20. Web site: Kim Pan-gon sudah ada empat calon kapten Harimau Malaya . 2022-03-22 . stadiumastro.com.
  21. Web site: Penantian berbaloi untuk bintang muda JDT, Hong Wan . 2022-03-04 . shootapp-share . en.
  22. Web site: SQUAD UPDATES . 2022-03-04 . Johor Darul Ta'zim FC . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2022 Piala FA Malaysia. cms.fam.org.my . 11 September 2022.
  24. Web site: JDT crack open KL City's defence to retain FA Cup . Malay Mail . 22 July 2023 . en . 22 July 2023.
  25. Web site: JDT berada di landasan tepat – Solari . Sinar Harian . 22 March 2023 . ms . 25 February 2023.