Nevertheless, Cheng moved to the league champions Dalian Shide the following season, yet he saw his development digress when he was excluded from their first team squad and dropped to the reserves.
He then transferred to Beijing Guoan and saw himself fight for the second choice goalkeeping position with Zhang Sipeng throughout much of the 2008 season.
[3] Because Cheng was still considered a promising goalkeeper, he would join recently promoted Guangzhou R&F on a five-year contract at the beginning of the 2012 season.
[4] Cheng was Guangzhou R&F's main keeper over the 2012-2019 seasons with the exception of 2015 when Liu Dianzuo played more games.
[5] However, he didn't play a single league minute in 2020 as U21 player Han Jiaqi became first choice goalkeeper.