Li Ngai Hoi


Li Ngai Hoi is a Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Hong Kong Premier League club Eastern District, on loan from Lee Man.
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Early career

Li was a student of Yan Chai Hospital Tung Chi Ying Memorial Secondary School and is under their youth football academy scheme with Kitchee. He also plays for the school's football team.

Club career

Li trained with English Premier League club Aston Villa after winning the Be A Pro competition organised by the club and Nike in August 2011. Li was promoted from the youth system of Kitchee in 2010. For the 2011–12 season, he was loaned to Hong Kong Sapling to gain more playing experiences. On 2 October 2011, Li made his debut for Hong Kong Sapling in the Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield first round first leg away match against Tuen Mun.
In the 2012–13 season, Li joined Pegasus on a loan contract for an undisclosed fee. He returned to Kitchee at the end of the season. In July 2013, Li joined China Super League club Dalian Aerbin for trial. Later, Li joined fellow First Division club Southern on a season-long loan from Kitchee on 7 August 2013.
On 9 January 2018, Li was recalled by Kitchee ahead of their 2018 AFC Champions League campaign.
On 8 February 2021, Kitchee accepted Li's transfer request and stated that they would allow the player to leave immediately. Four days later, it was announced that Li had signed with China League One club Nantong Zhiyun for a transfer fee of RMB $1 million. He would go on to establish himself within the team and helped the club gain promotion to the top tier at the end of the 2022 China League One season. On 28 June 2023, Li made his Chinese Super League debut for the club in the match against Shanghai Shenhua.
On 24 July 2023, Li returned to Hong Kong and joined [Hong Kong Hong Kong Rangers FC|Rangers FC|Rangers]. On 16 January, the club agreed to terminate his contract upon his request to pursue other options.
On 29 January 2024, Li joined Lee Man. His move drew the ire of Rangers CEO Philip Lee, who had agreed to terminate Li's contract after the player had originally claimed that he was considering offers from abroad.
On 31 December 2025, Li was loaned to Eastern District until the end of the 2025–26 season.

International career

On 3 June 2016, Li made his international debut for Hong Kong in a 2016 AYA Bank Cup match against Vietnam.
On 26 December 2023, Li was named in Hong Kong's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

Career statistics

International

#DateVenueOpponentResultCompetition
13 June 2016Thuwunna Stadium, Myanmar2–22016 AYA Bank Cup
26 June 2016Thuwunna Stadium, Myanmar0–32016 AYA Bank Cup
323 March 2017King Abdullah II Stadium, Jordan0–4Friendly
49 November 2017Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong0–2Friendly
514 December 2019Busan Gudeok Stadium, Busan, South Korea0–52019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship
628 March 2023Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor, Malaysia0–2Friendly
717 October 2023Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, Bhutan0–22026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round
816 November 2023Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran0–42026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
91 January 2024Baniyas Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates2–1Friendly
1014 January 2024Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar1–32023 AFC Asian Cup
1123 January 2024Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar0–32023 AFC Asian Cup
1226 March 2024Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan0–32026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round

Honours

Club

;Kitchee
;Lee Man