Yang Liyu started his football career when he joined Campeonato de Portugal side Gondomar from Wuhan Zall in 2015.

On 26 January 2017, Yang was loaned out to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda for one season.

[7] He made his debut for the club on 14 February 2018 in a 1–1 home draw against Buriram United in the 2018 AFC Champions League, coming on as a substitute for Alan Carvalho in the 80th minute.

[10] The following season he would go on to establish himself as a vital member of the team that went on to win the 2019 Chinese Super League title.

[14] Yang was called up to the Chinese national team by Marcello Lippi for the first time in November 2017 for the 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship.