[3] In the second tier, Yu would help establish Tianjin Songjiang within the division and by the 2012 China League One season was given the captaincy.
[5] Within the top tier, Yu struggled to gain any playing time and 27 July 2013, he was loaned to China League Two side Hebei Zhongji until 31 December 2013.
[6] His loan period would see him immediately establish himself within the team and win promotion with the club by coming runners-up within the division.
[7] Yu would return from his loan period and go on to make his debut for Guizhou Renhe on 22 April 2014 in a AFC Champions League group stage game against Western Sydney Wanderers FC that ended in a 5–0 defeat.
[12] While he remained with the club for another season on 23 January 2020, Yu transferred to Super League side Shanghai SIPG for 20 million Yuan.