# Li Ngai Hoi

Li Ngai Hoi (Chinese: 李毅凱; Jyutping: lei$^5$ ngai$^6$ hoi$^2$; born 15 October 1994) is a Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Hong Kong Premier League club Lee Man.

## 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 2011–12 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 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.

## 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
### Club

    As of matches played 8 July 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Kitchee | 2015–16 | Hong Kong Premier League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2016–17 | Hong Kong Premier League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2017–18 | Hong Kong Premier League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Kitchee | 2018–19 | Hong Kong Premier League | 15 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 3 |
| Kitchee | 2019–20 | Hong Kong Premier League | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 2 |
| Kitchee | 2020–21 | Hong Kong Premier League | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Kitchee | Total | Total | 47 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 86 | 7 |
| Hong Kong Sapling (loan) | 2011–12 | Hong Kong First Division | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Pegasus (loan) | 2012–13 | Hong Kong First Division | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 5 | 0 |
| Southern (loan) | 2013–14 | Hong Kong First Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 10 | 0 |
| Shenyang Zhongze (loan) | 2014 | China League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| South China (loan) | 2014–15 | Hong Kong Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Pegasus (loan) | 2016–17 | Hong Kong Premier League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Pegasus (loan) | 2017–18 | Hong Kong Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Pegasus (loan) | Total | Total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Nantong Zhiyun | 2021 | China League One | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 23 | 1 |
| Nantong Zhiyun | 2022 | China League One | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 17 | 0 |
| Nantong Zhiyun | 2023 | Chinese Super League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| Nantong Zhiyun | Total | Total | 39 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 122 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 179 | 8 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Appearances in Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield
* ↑ 3 Appearances in HKFA League Cup, 1 Appearances 2015–16 Hong Kong season play-off
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearances in Hong Kong Sapling Cup
* ↑ 2 Appearances in Hong Kong Sapling Cup, 1 Appearances in Hong Kong Community Cup
* 1 2 Appearances in HKFA League Cup

### International

    As of matches played 26 March 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Hong Kong | 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2017 | 2 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2018 | 0 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2024 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 12 | 0 |
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 3 June 2016 | Thuwunna Stadium, Myanmar | Vietnam | 2–2 | 2016 AYA Bank Cup |
| 2 | 6 June 2016 | Thuwunna Stadium, Myanmar | Myanmar | 0–3 | 2016 AYA Bank Cup |
| 3 | 23 March 2017 | King Abdullah II Stadium, Jordan | Jordan | 0–4 | Friendly |
| 4 | 9 November 2017 | Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong | Bahrain | 0–2 | Friendly |
| 5 | 14 December 2019 | Busan Gudeok Stadium, Busan, South Korea | Japan | 0–5 | 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |
| 6 | 28 March 2023 | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor, Malaysia | Malaysia | 0–2 | Friendly |
| 7 | 17 October 2023 | Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, Bhutan | Bhutan | 0–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round |
| 8 | 16 November 2023 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | Iran | 0–4 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |
| 9 | 1 January 2024 | Baniyas Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | China | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 10 | 14 January 2024 | Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar | United Arab Emirates | 1–3 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 11 | 23 January 2024 | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar | Palestine | 0–3 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 12 | 26 March 2024 | Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 0–3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |

## Honours
### Club
#### Kitchee

* Hong Kong Premier League: 2017–18, 2019–20
* Hong Kong Senior Shield: 2018–19
* Hong Kong FA Cup: 2017–18, 2018–19
* Hong Kong Sapling Cup: 2019–20

#### Lee Man

* Hong Kong Premier League: 2023–24