[5] Li would be linked with fellow top tier clubs Jiangsu Suning, Tianjin Quanjian and Guangzhou Evergrande in the 2018 winter transfer window.

However, his former club Changchun Yatai submitted a claim to the Chinese Football Association for his ownership in January 2018 and held back any further transfers.

[1] He stayed at Dalian Yifang and made his Chinese Super League debut on 3 March 2018 in an 8–0 crushing defeat against Shanghai SIPG, coming on for Wang Jinxian in the 66th minute.

[6] Despite the defeat he would still remain a vital member of the team and go on to score his first first-tier league goal on 14 September 2018 in a 1–0 win over Tianjin Quanjian to secure Dalian's first away victory of the season.

[7] Li's contract with Dalian would come to an end and fellow top tier club Shanghai Port would sign him on a free transfer on 28 July 2022.