Career
Zhang Xizhe started his football career with top tier side Beijing Guoan in the 2009 season when he made his debut on 30 August 2009 in a 1-1 draw against Shandong Luneng. The following season, in an attempt to gain more playing time, Zhang was loaned to S.League side Beijing Guoan Talent. He returned to Beijing in July 2010 and scored his first goal for the club on 22 August 2010 in a 2-2 draw Henan Jianye.
The 2013 season was Zhang's breakout season for Beijing, scoring eleven goals and assisting twelve goals in thirty league games. On 16 December 2014, Zhang transferred to Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg after yet another successful season for Beijing. Even though he made the matchday squad for several matches, Zhang failed to make a single appearance for Wolfsburg during his time with the club.
On 15 July 2015, Zhang returned to Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan after just six months with VfL Wolfsburg. He made his return debut for the club on 20 July 2015 in a 0-0 draw against Shanghai SIPG.
Zhang was called up to the Chinese under-20 national team in 2009 and took part in the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualifying campaign where he scored two goals from five appearances. At the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship, he played in every game as China lost in the quarterfinals at the tournament.
On 29 March 2011, then manager Gao Hongbo decided to hand Zhang his debut in a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica in an experimental team that also saw Lang Zheng, Jin Jingdao, Lü Peng, Ma Chongchong and Ye Weichao make their first appearances. On 5 March 2014, Zhang scored a penalty in the final match of 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification in a 3-1 loss against Iraq which ensured that China advanced to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup as the best third-placed team, beating Lebanon on goal differential.
