Ma Zhen would be promoted to the senior team of top tier club Tianjin Tianhai in the 2019 Chinese Super League season to act as cover for first choice goalkeeper Zhang Lu.
where the Head coach Shen Xiangfu brought him on to replace outfield player Wu Wei and played him as an attacker for the final few minutes of the game that ended in a 2-1 defeat.
[1] The following season Ma Zhen would join another top tier club in Shanghai Shenhua for the start of the 2020 Chinese Super League campaign.
[3] In the 2023 Chinese Super League, Ma Zhen began the season as the first-choice keeper for Shanghai Shenhua.
[5] This, combined with declining performances, led to him gradually losing his first-choice keeper spot to Bao Yaxiong.