[3] This led to a loan to First Division League side Citizen during the end of the 2007 season, making his debut for the club 2 December 2007 in a 3–0 loss against Happy Valley.
[5] At the start of the 2009 season, he would become a vital member of the squad due to his versatility to play in either the midfield or the defense, aiding Dalian to a midtable finish.
On 10 June 2014, Li transferred to fellow Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande along with his teammate Yu Hanchao.
[10] On 28 December 2024, Li held the retirement game with his former teammates Feng Xiaoting and Rong Hao in Shandong Linyi Olympic Park.
[11] Li made his debut for the Chinese national team on 4 June 2010 in a 1–0 win against France, coming on as a substitute for Du Wei.