On 10 December 2024, Guoan announced that head coach Ricardo Soares has left the club.[1] On the same day, the club appointed Quique Setién as head coach for the 2025 season.[2] Setién said that he would like to team to play possession-based attacking football, and that he believed that the team should not be 20 points behind league leaders like it was in the 2024 season.[3]
The team began a two-week pre-season training in Kunming starting on 15 December with players out on loan returning to participate as well.[4] Newly appointed head coach Setién was not present during this phase with training instead being led by assistant coach and Spanish former beach soccer player Ramiro Amarelle.[5]
On 21 December 2024, Guoan suffered a temporary transfer ban from FIFA that prohibited incoming player transfers pending the result of certain financial disputes.[6] The ban was lifted on 30 December 2024 following the resolution of the financial dispute, and Guoan was free to continue player transfer activities.[7]
On 27 December 2024, Guoan played a training match in Kunming against Shandong Taishan's U-18 team. As the opponent is much younger, Guoan played with a 10-man team. Guoan won 4–0 with two goals from Yan Yu and one each from Wang Ziming and Fang Hao.[8] The training camp officially concluded on 28 December 2024.[9]
News reports on 31 December 2024 confirmed that the club had signed a 2-year contract extension with Zhang Xizhe and 1-year extensions with Wang Gang and Chi Zhongguo respectively. Bai Yang, Nebijan Muhmet, and Cao Yongjing's contracts were also extended by the club.[10] It was also reported that Samuel Adegbenro, Mamadou Traoré, and Zhang Chengdong's contracts would not be extended and the players have left the club.[11][12] Club also announced the retirement of long-time captainYu Dabao and his subsequent transition to youth coaching roles within the club.[13] On 7 January 2025, Li Ke announced his departure from Beijing Guoan after a six-season long spell.[14] The following day, Shanghai Shenhua announced Li Ke's arrival at the club on a free transfer.[15] Ahead of the season, long-term club youth players including He Xiaoqiang, Ruan Qilong, Ma Yujun, Duan Dezhi and others also left the club.[16]
Guoan began its second phase of winter training in Haikou on 6 January 2025 under head coach Setién. This phase of training is set to last 21 days with multiple friendlies.[17][18] The first friendly took place on 14 January against Changchun Yatai, which Guoan won 2–0 through a penalty from Zhang Xizhe and a goal from Jiang Wenhao.[19] On 17 January, Guoan played its second training camp friendly against China League One club Chongqing Tonglianglong. Abreu, Fang Hao, Zhang Xizhe, and Nebijan helped Guoan to a 4–2 win.[20] On 21 January, Guoan lost 2–3 to Dalian Yingbo in the team's third training match. Abreu and an opposition goal put Guoan up in the firs half, but the team conceded three in the second half after rotating.[21] Guoan won its fourth training match, played against old rivalShanghai Shenhua, 4–1 thanks to two goals from Fang Hao and one each from Feng Boxuan and Zhang Yuning. Former Guoan player Gao Tianyi scored Shenhua's lone goal.[22] Guoan's last training match before the team's Lunar New Year break took place on 26 January against Nantong Zhiyun. Lin Liangming scored the lone goal, with Guoan winning 1–0.[23]
The team regrouped on 1 February and traveled to Thailand to begin its third phase of winter training.[26] Guoan lost the first training match in Thailand against Hwaseong FC, a K League 2 club, 1–2 on 4 February.[27] Guoan played fellow CSL team Shenzhen Peng City on 8 February in its second training match and won 4–2. Abreu scored all four goals for Guoan.[28] On 13 February, Guoan tied Thai League 1 club Ratchaburi F.C. 1–1 in another training match thanks to a goal from Abreu.[29] Guoan's final pre-season training match took place a day later against China League One side Liaoning Tieren. Guoan drew the game 1–1 with a goal from Zhang Yuning.[30]
On 18 February, the last day of the winter transfer window, Guoan announced the signing of Serbian defender Uroš Spajić from Red Star Belgrade.[31][32] The transfer came after the club received confirmation that Serginho's naturalization process is completed and he would be registered as a Chinese national.[33]
Guoan's participation in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two was officially confirmed on 19 February. As a result of finishing 4th in the league in 2024, Guoan would qualify for the competition provided that Shandong Taishan, which finished behind Guoan and could not qualify via its domestic league rankings, does not win the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite.[34] On 19 February, Shandong Taishan withdrew from the group stages of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite as a result of sustained political controversy stirred by its fans displaying images of former South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan and current North Korea leader Kim Jong-un in an AFC Champions League Elite match against K League 1 side Gwangju, cementing Guoan's place in continental competition for the 2025–26 season.[35][36]
Guoan's played its first league game of the season on 22 February away from home against newly-promoted side Yunnan Yukun. After a dull first half, Guoan upped the pressure and scored through Abreu in the 53rd minute with Nebijan Muhmet providing the assist. Guoan doubled its lead in the 79th minute as Cao Yongjing deftly touched a rebounded corner. In the 100th minute, Bai Yang was shown a second yellow card and was sent off. Ultlimately, Guoan secured its opening match with a 2–0 win.[37]
Guoan's second game of the season was played away from home on 1 March against old rivalsShanghai Shenhua. Guoan's new central defense signing Uroš Spajić was named in the starting lineup in his debut for the team. In the 11th minute, Guoan opened the scoring through Lin Liangming's header in a set piece situation. However, after 2 separate Guoan defensive plays were VAR review, the tide of the match shifted against Guoan. In the 38th minute, Wu Xi leveled for Shenhua after lobbing Guoan's keeper. In the 3rd minute of added time in the first half, a Han Jiaqi mistake gave away a penalty, through which Shenhua gained a 2–1 lead before halftime. Setién made several changes at the half, including debiting Guoan's other center-back signing Wu Shaocong. In the 81st minute, Zhang Yuan, who was substituted on at the beginning of the second half, was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Despite playing a man down, Guoan leveled the game in the 93rd minute with Li Lei crossing the ball for Abreu, whose header ricocheted into the net after hitting the crossbar and then against the back of Shenhua's keeper Bao Yaxiong. The game ended in a 2–2 draw.[38]
On 15 March, Guoan played a training match against Qingdao Hainiu to keep players sharp during the international break. Guoan won 2–1 with Fang Hao scoring a double. However, Wang Gang suffered a broken rib and Zhang Yuan a muscle strain in the match, resulting in both players being sidelined. He Yupeng was also injured around the same time, having fractured his foot in training.[39][40]
On 19 March, Guoan youth player Guo Jiaxuan died at 18 years of age at Beijing's Tiantan Hospital.[42] On 6 February, He suffered a severe training injury in Spain as part of Beijing Football Association's training squad in preparation of the 2025 National Games of China that led to him being pronounced brain dead locally. He was transferred back to Beijing for medical care, but never regained consciousness.[43][44]
Guoan resumed league competition on 29 March against Chengdu Rongcheng in what was also the home opener of the season. In the 12th minute, Yang Liyu was fouled in the penalty box after dribbling down the left hand side, and the referee awarded Guoan with a penalty after lengthy video review. Abreu converted the penalty to give Guoan a 1–0 lead. In the second half, Ngadeu stepped on a Chengdu player's foot in an attempt to win back a lost ball, but the foul was deemed too aggressive and he was sent off in the 67th minute. Despite several Han Jiaqi saves, Guoan was unable to hold the lead and conceded in the 78th minute. The game ended in a 1–1 draw with Guoan slipping to 7th place.[45]
A midweek match on 2 April followed the draw against Chengdu Rongcheng, with Guoan travelling to play Tianjin Jinmen Tiger on 2 April. In the 5th minute, Spajić was knocked unconscious after colliding with an opposition player in an aerial duel, and was taken off in replacement with home-grown youngster Fan Shuangjie for his first appearance of the season. In the 27th minute, Li Lei received a cross from Dawhan and slotted the ball in the net, giving Guoan a 1–0 advantage. Later on in the first half, Guoan goalkeeper Han Jiaqi made two crucial saves to keep Guoan ahead. In the 70th minute and the 78th minute, Tianjin's Xie Weijun and Xadas each assisted Alberto Quiles for two goals in quick succession, and the game was turned on its heads as Guoan handed Tianjin a 2–1 lead. In the first minute of second half stoppage time, Yang Liyu's cross looped into the Tianjin's penalty area, and Tianjin centre-back Yang Fan headed the ball into his own net, with the own goal leveling the game at 2–2, which finished as the full-time score.[46] Spajić has since regained consciousness.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Updated to match(es) played on 2 April 2025. Source: Soccerway Rules for classification:
During season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Rankings in the previous season. (Rules 2 to 4 are only applied when teams concerned have finished both/all the matches against others.)
After season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card = 3 points); 8) Drawing of lots.
Stadium: TEDA Soccer Stadium Attendance: 30,200 Referee: Du Jianxin Assistant referees: Sun Kai Assistant referees: Hu Chengjun Fourth official: Wan Tao
Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play.
Last updated: 2 April 2025 Source: [1] Only competitive matches = Number of bookings; = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card; = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.
^"官方：国安主帅苏亚雷斯离任 执教一年半&本赛季获联赛第4" [Official: Guoan Head Coach Soares Leaves, Coached for One and a Half Years and Achieved 4th Place League Finish]. Sohu Sports (in Simplified Chinese). 10 December 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
^ ab"主打传控！ 北京国安官宣：前巴萨主帅塞蒂恩担任球队新帅" [Focusing on Control! Beijing Guoan Announces Former Barcelona Coach Setien as new Head Coach]. Sohu Sports (in Simplified Chinese). 10 December 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
^Liu, Xiangyu (2025-01-20). "专访国安主帅塞蒂恩：合理的选择，比奔跑更重要" [Interview with Guoan Head Coach Setién: Good Choices are Better than Running Around]. k.sina.cn. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
^腾讯网 (2024-12-16). "冬训 | 昆明集合开练 外租球员悉数归队". news.qq.com (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2024-12-16.
^ abZhang, Kunlong (2024-12-11). "北京国安本周日昆明正式开启冬训 新帅新年后到队" [Guoan to Begin Winter Training Camp This Sunday, New Coach to Arrive after New Year]. Sina Sports (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 2024-12-11.
^ ab"官方：36岁于大宝退役 转任国安青训教练" [Official: 36-Year Old Yu Dabao Retires, to Transition to Guoan Youth Coach]. Sina Sports. 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
^"李可：是时候和国安说再见了，这六年岁月对我来说意义非凡" [Li Ke: It's time to say goodbye to Guoan, these six years were extraordinary to me]. Dongqiudi. 2025-01-07. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
^"中超-法比奥轰世界波赵宇豪柏杨染红 国安客场2-0玉昆_比赛_禁区" [CSL: Abreu Long Strike and Zhao Yuhao and Bai Yang See Red, Guoan 2–0 Yukun Away]. www.sohu.com (in Simplified Chinese). 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-02-22.
^"中超-10人国安1-1成都 法比奥点射恩加德乌染红" [CSL: 10-Man Guoan 1–1 Chengdu, Abreu Converts Penalty but Ngadeu Red Carded]. www.163.com (in Simplified Chinese). 2025-03-29. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
^"中超-李磊建功基莱斯7分钟2球 津门虎2-2国安" [CSL: Li Lei scores and Quiles two goals in seven minutes; Jinmen Tiger 2–2 Guoan]. www.163.com (in Simplified Chinese). 2025-04-02. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
Spain
China
İstanbul Başakşehir
Dawhan
Gamba Osaka
Uroš Spajić
Samuel Adegbenro
Mamadou Traoré
Hwaseong FC 
Ratchaburi F.C. 
