# Cao Kang

Cao Kang (Chinese: 曹康; pinyin: Cáo Kāng; born 8 January 1993) is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chinese Super League club Nantong Zhiyun.

## Career
### Early career

Born in Boxing County in Binzhou, Shandong, Cao Kang moved to the city of Changzhou in Jiangsu at a young age, where he started his football journey, being in the Jiangsu provincial youth team squad that participated in the 2011 China League Two. In 2013, Cao Kang was included in Jiangsu Province's squad for the 2013 National Games of China at the under-20 level. The same year, Cao Kang gained playing experience in an off-season friendly in a 4–0 loss as he faced Russian side CSKA Moscow. In 2014, Cao was named in Jiangsu Sainty's first-team squad for the 2014 Chinese Super League season. In 2016, after Jiangsu's Chinese FA Cup win in 2015, Cao Kang was included in the club's 2016 AFC Champions League squad.

### Heilongjiang Ice City

On 13 March 2017, Cao Kang signed for Heilongjiang Lava Spring on loan. He scored his first goal for the club on 17 June 2017 in a 2–1 away league victory at Dalian Boyoung. He helped the team clinch the 2017 China League Two title, securing promotion to China League One. On 1 March 2018, Heilongjiang Lava Spring announced that they signed Cao Kang on a permanent basis. In the league opener on 11 March 2018, Cao Kang scored an equaliser in a 2–2 draw with eventual league runners-up Shenzhen. On 25 May 2019, Cao Kang opened the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Liaoning. On the final day of the 2019 China League One season on 2 November, Cao Kang scored a brace in a 4–1 win over Changchun Yatai to help Heilongjiang reach fourth place, the highest league position the club has reached in its history, as well as break Changchun Yatai's chances of an immediate promotion back to the Chinese Super League. On 1 July 2022, Cao Kang scored Heilongjiang Ice City's second goal in a 3–1 win over Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard. Accumulatively over his five permanent seasons at the club, Cao Kang provided seven goals in 118 appearances.

### Nantong Zhiyun

On 23 January 2023, Cao Kang signed for newly-promoted Chinese Super League side Nantong Zhiyun. He scored his first goal for Nantong Zhiyun on 7 July 2023, in a 1–1 away draw with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. He scored his second goal of the 2023 season on 8 August, in a 1–1 draw against Zhejiang. The following season, Cao Kang scored the only goal in a 1–0 home win over Meizhou Hakka on 5 April 2024.

## Style of play

Cao Kang has been described by Nantong Zhiyun as having great aggressiveness and pressing, bringing defensive cover, and being capable of contributing on both sides of the pitch.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 26 July 2024
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Jiangsu Youth | 2011 | China League Two | 12 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 12 | 0 |
| Jiangsu Youth | 2012 | China League Two | 19 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 19 | 3 |
| Jiangsu Youth | Total | Total | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
| Jiangsu Suning | 2014 | Chinese Super League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| Jiangsu Suning | 2015 | Chinese Super League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| Jiangsu Suning | 2016 | Chinese Super League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jiangsu Suning | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Heilongjiang Lava Spring (loan) | 2017 | China League Two | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 5 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| Heilongjiang Ice City | 2018 | China League One | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 29 | 1 |
| Heilongjiang Ice City | 2019 | China League One | 22 | 4 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 24 | 4 |
| Heilongjiang Ice City | 2020 | China League One | 14 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Heilongjiang Ice City | 2021 | China League One | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 19 | 1 |
| Heilongjiang Ice City | 2022 | China League One | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 32 | 1 |
| Heilongjiang Ice City | Total | Total | 116 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 118 | 8 |
| Nantong Zhiyun | 2023 | Chinese Super League | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 30 | 2 |
| Nantong Zhiyun | 2024 | Chinese Super League | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 20 | 2 |
| Nantong Zhiyun | Total | Total | 48 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 4 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 217 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 229 | 15 |
* ↑ Appearances in AFC Champions League
* ↑ Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup
* ↑ Appearances in China League Two play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in China League One relegation play-offs

## Honours

Heilongjiang Ice City
* China League Two: 2017