XI'AN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chang'an Athletic Football Club announced that its former player Ding Guoliang died of skin cancer in a local hospital on Friday.

"Mr Ding Guoliang died of pelvic carcinoma on November 30. His death was hugely distressing for our club," said Chang'an Athletic FC in its statement.

The 23-year-old Ding joined Chang'an Athletic from Shenzhen Jiazhaoye in January 2017. Chang'an Athletic said that Ding served his club diligently. In 2017, Ding helped Chang'an Athletic win a gold medal in China's National Games.

The statement on Chang'an's official Weibo website reads: "We wish to express our deepest sympathies and pass on our condolences to Ding's family. We hope Mr Ding rests in peace and continues chasing his football dream in heaven."

Ding was diagnosed with carcinoma in September 2017. His memorial service will take place in his hometown of Zibo in Shandong Province on Saturday.

Chang'an Athletic was established in 2016. It took the third place in China's third division in 2018, but failed to secure a second division ticket.