[1] He once again garnered national attention the following year, this time for his performances at a primary school championship final, where he scored four goals and recorded one assist in a 5–2 victory.
[3] In 2013, Li was selected for the Wanda Group's "China's Future Football Star" initiative, to encourage the development of young Chinese players.
[1][3] He joined the academy of Atlético Madrid, progressing through the youth ranks and representing the club at under-17 level.
[2] However, despite a promising start in Madrid, he was loaned to RSD Alcalá for the 2017–18 season, making eleven appearances for the under-19s.
[1] He returned to China at the beginning of 2019, signing with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou City.