September 9: Making History! Lu Mengyang and Four Others Registered for Espanyol U19B, Completing a Key Step Up Abroad

A Chinese youngster born in 2009 scored only six goals last season in the third tier of Catalonia, but on September 7 he entered Espanyol U19B, with the first round of the national second tier starting on September 19.

Six goals may not sound explosive, but within Catalan youth football it was enough for him to move from regional competition to the national level. However, this registration document is still far from the La Liga first team, with U19A, the reserve team and a professional contract several steps away.

The batch of news on September 7 first came from blogger josehidalgo, and the Xiyan Youth Football channel later posted Catalonia FA registration screenshots. The information can be checked and matched to the player, but Espanyol's official website did not release an announcement. The key point for ordinary fans is this: FA registration proves eligibility to compete, but it does not prove entry into the professional system.

Lu Mengyang was already registered as a player in Catalonia in March 2024. Last season he played for CE Europa U19B in Catalonia U19 Preferente, which is the third regional tier. Most opponents were local Catalan teams, and his six goals over the season provided the basis for his opportunity to move up to the national second tier.

Moving to the national second tier changes everything.

That level is organized by the Spanish Football Federation, divided by regions, with teams coming from across the country. Catalonia Preferente is a local competition, while the national second tier involves youth teams from different regions, making away trips, travel and opponents' styles more varied. Six goals at the regional level show consistent finishing, but at the national second tier he must prove things again: how often he makes squads, how often he starts, and whether he can receive the ball and progress it under intense pressing.

Espanyol's youth pathway is clearly divided. U19A plays in the honor division, with the main task of supplying players to the reserve team; U19B plays in the national second tier, focusing more on development and selection. Lu Mengyang joining the B team gives him a stronger training and competition platform, not that he has already secured a promotion route.

There are others on the same pathway. A blogger counted around five Chinese players from the Catalonia region registered for the U19 national second tier this season, calling it a record high. The number only shows that more families are willing to aim for this level; it does not mean anyone is already close to playing in La Liga. Youth league squads are large, while few ultimately earn professional contracts. Registration numbers and successful development are not the same thing.

The non-EU issue does not need to be exaggerated into an insurmountable obstacle. He already had registration records in Catalonia in March 2024, meaning this is a continuation locally rather than a new cross-border transfer from China. Every promotion, club change and step toward a professional contract still requires residence procedures, federation licensing and club registration processes. Without completing the procedures, even good training cannot lead to official matches.

As a midfielder, he used six goals at Europa to show his ability to run, make forward movements and finish. At Espanyol U19B, coaches will also look at defensive coverage, support angles and weaker-foot passing. Changing teams will not automatically improve these areas; he needs to continue refining them through the national second-tier competition.

After the first round begins on September 19, judging this step up should not rely on vague statements like whether he has 'La Liga potential.' Look at whether he makes the squad, whether he is a substitute or starter, how many minutes he averages in the opening rounds, and whether he can keep possession against away opponents from regions such as Madrid, the Basque Country and Andalusia. The national second tier provides a more valuable sample than Catalonia Preferente because it is closer to the true competitive density of professional youth football.

Do not rush to rank the five players registered at the same level. Some play for B teams, some are in A teams of other clubs, and some remain in regional competitions. Since league levels differ, directly comparing goal totals is meaningless. The confirmed information about Lu Mengyang's path currently includes: born in 2009, registered in Catalonia in March 2024, six goals for Europa U19B in the third regional tier, transferred to Espanyol U19B on September 7, 2026, and the national second-tier first round on September 19.

The fact that federation screenshots can be verified does not mean he should be described as 'the successor after Wu Lei.' Wu Lei was registered with a La Liga first team, while Lu Mengyang is at the second youth level. The two registration systems, contract types and daily competition environments are different, and comparing them would only create misunderstandings.