Далянь Шидэ
Yu Ziqian played for the Dalian Yiteng youth team before it was sold-off and then merged with Dalian Shide F.C.'s own youth team. At Dalian Shide Yu was trained by former England international goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer, however before he had a chance to establish himself within the team he was seriously injured in a training session where he received a ruptured spleen and one year out of football. Upon his return from injury Yu was allowed to join third-tier club Shanxi Luhu in the 2002 league campaign before he returned to Dalian Shide after they needed a third choice goalkeeper the following season. At the top-tier club he would have to wait to establish himself until on April 9, 2003 in a 2002–03 AFC Champions League semi-final match he was given his debut after the first choice goalkeeper An Qi was sent-off and Yu had to deputize as Dalian Shide lost to Al Ain FC 4-2.