An Rui Yao

An Rui Yao is a central defender for Shandong SL in the Chinese Women's Super League (CWSL). At 25 years old, she has made a significant impact from the backline, despite her primary position being one that typically does not focus on scoring goals or providing assists. Throughout the 14 games she has played, totaling 734 minutes on the field, Yao has proven her worth as a solid ball-playing center-back. Her playing style is reflected in her impressive progressive passing distance, which averages 316.01 meters per game, and a progressive carrying distance of 129.54 meters per game. This data highlights her ability to help transition play from defense to attack, making her a critical component of Shandong SL's strategy.

Yao's defensive prowess is further exhibited by her remarkable statistics in interceptions and challenges. She averages 7.55 possession-adjusted interceptions and 5.9 challenges per game, with a commendable challenge success rate of 61%. These stats indicate her sharp defensive instincts and ability to disrupt opposition play effectively. Despite her solid defensive ability, her playmaker rank of 2.5 shows that she also contributes to the team's build-up play, setting her apart as a well-rounded defender. With an estimated transfer value of €74K, An Rui Yao remains a valuable asset to Shandong SL, epitomizing the archetype of a ball-playing center-back who can control the game from the backline.