is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains club Kashima Antlers.
Club career
Early career Born in Noheji, Aomori, Japan, Shibasaki began playing in his first year at elementary school. Once he started junior school at Aomori Yamada High School, he left his hometown and started living in a dormitory, saying: "In a higher level environment, the dream of becoming a professional at that time is now a waypoint into the future. I would like to play an active role in Kashima's match in a year." During his time at high school, he quickly developed with his well-balanced plate accurate kick for offense and defence, as well as, his high judgment and high precision. Two years later on 11 January 2010, Shibasaki helped Aomoriyamada High School reach the final of National High School Championship Final, only to lose 1–0 against Yamanashi Gakuin University. Following the end of the tournament, he was among 36 players named as the best players by the National Sports Committee of the Football Association. Later in August 2010, Shibasaki was among 33 players named as the best players by the National Sports Committee of the Football Association once again. Towards the end of the year, he also became a captain for Aomoriyamada High School and helped the All Japan Youth Championship Final, only to lose 2–0 against Tokyo U-18.
It was announced on 20 January 2010 that Shibasaki will be joining Kashima Antlers, starting from the 2011 season. Upon joining the club, he revealed that he had offers from Nagoya Grampus, but opted to join Kashima Antlers instead.
Kashima Antlers Ahead of the 2011 season, Shibasaki was given a number twenty shirt at the club. He began to learn to play in the right–back position under the management of Oswaldo de Oliveira and potentially be used as a cover following an injury of Daigo Nishi. Shibasaki made his Kashima Antlers' debut against Avispa Fukuoka on 29 April 2011, coming on as a late substitute, in a 2–1 win. Four days later on 3 May 2011, he made his AFC Champions League debut, coming on as a late substitute, in a 2–0 win against Shanghai Shenhua. A month later on 18 June 2011, Shibasaki made his first start for the side, starting the whole game, in a 2–0 win against Júbilo Iwata. However, he fractured his foot during a 1–0 win against Vissel Kobe on 22 June 2011 and was sidelined for two months. It wasn't until on 18 September 2011 when Shibasaki returned from injury, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Nagoya Grampus. He then scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 win against Nagoya Grampus in the semi–finals of the J. League Cup to reach the final. Shortly after, Shibasaki signed an "A contract". In the J.League Cup Final against Urawa Red Diamonds, Shibasaki started the whole game, as he helped the club win 1–0 to win the J.League Cup. Following this, he received a handful of first team football for the remaining matches of the 2011 season. At the end of the 2011 season, Shibasaki went on to make twenty appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2012 season, Shibasaki was appointed as the club's vice–captain, alongside Daigo Nishi. He started three matches in the first four league matches before suffering a thigh strain during a 1–0 win against Omiya Ardija in the J.League Cup on 4 April 2012. It wasn't until on 21 April 2012 when Shibasaki made his return from injury against Cerezo Osaka, coming on as a 31st-minute substitute, and helped Kashima Antlers make a comeback from 2–0 down to beat them 3–2. He later regained his first team place, playing in the central midfield position following his return from injury. Shibasaki started in the Suruga Bank Championship against Universidad de Chile and played for 62 minutes before being substituted, as Kashima Antlers won 7–6 on penalties after the game was played throughout 120 minutes with a 2–2 draw. Seven days later on 8 August 2012, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–0 win against Cerezo Osaka in the second leg of the J.League Cup quarter–finals to send the club through to the next round. Two months later on 6 October 2012, Shibasaki scored his second goal of the season, in a 5–1 win against FC Tokyo. In the J.League Cup Final against Shimizu S-Pulse, Shibasaki started and scored twice in the game, as Kashima Antlers won 2–1 after the game went extra time, to win the J.League Cup for the second time in a row. After the match, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the game. Manager Jorginho praised Shibasaki's performance and believed that he could be playing in Europe in the future. Despite one match due to a suspension, he went on to make forty–five appearances and scoring four times in all competitions. For his performance, Shibasaki was awarded J.League's Best Young Player Award.
At the start of the 2013 season, Shibasaki continued to regain his first team place, playing in the central midfield position. It wasn't until on 13 April 2013 when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–2 win against Oita Trinita. Two weeks later on 27 April 2013, Shibasaki scored his second goal of the season, in a 3–2 win against Albirex Niigata. His goal against Albirex Niigata earned him April's Goal of the Month. Over the summer, he was linked a move to Bundesliga side 1. FC Nürnberg. Despite this, he started in the 2013 Suruga Bank Championship against São Paulo and helped them win 3–2 to win the trophy once again. Later in the 2013 season, Shibasaki helped the side finish fifth place in the league, but missed out on qualifying for the AFC Champions League. Despite this, he went on to make forty–five appearances and scoring two times in all competitions, having played every single matches of the 2013 season.
In the 2014 season, Shibasaki continued to regain his first team place, playing in the central midfield position. It wasn't until on 29 March 2014 when he scored his first goal of the season, and set up the club's second goal of the game, in a 3–1 win against Yokohama F. Marinos. Shibasaki captained Kashima Antlers for the first time in his career and led the side win 3–1 against Sagan Tosu in the J. League Cup match on 2 April 2014. In a follow–up J. League Cup match, he captained once again and led the side win 2–1 win against Vegalta Sendai. His second goal of the season came on 10 May 2014, in a 4–1 loss against Kawasaki Frontale. Shibasaki then scored two goals in two matches between 27 July 2014 and 2 August 2014 against Urawa Red Diamonds and Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Two weeks later on 16 August 2014, he scored his fifth goal of the season, in a 1–0 win against Ventforet Kofu. His goal against the opposition team resulted in him being named J.League Goal of the Week. In a match against FC Tokyo on 30 August 2014, Shibasaki captained the side for the third time this season, helping drew 2–2. His performance throughout August resulted in him being named August's J.League Player of the Month. It wasn't until on 29 November 2014 when Shibasaki scored his sixth goal of the season, in a 4–1 win against Cerezo Osaka. At the end of the 2014 season, he went on to make forty–one appearances and scoring six times in all competitions. For his performance, Shibasaki was named J.League Best XI.
Ahead of the 2015 season, Shibisaki was linked a move to Serie A side AC Milan, but no move took place. At the start of the 2015 season, he was given a captaincy following the absence of Mitsuo Ogasawara. Shibasaki captained his first match of the season, starting the whole and set up the club's only goal of the game, in a 3–1 loss against Shimizu S-Pulse in the opening game of the season. He then scored his first goal of the season, in a 4–3 loss against Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao on 18 March 2015. Shibasaki played an important role against Sagan Tosu on 8 April 2015, scoring and setting the club's first and third goal of the match, in a 3–1 win. Two weeks later on 25 April 2015, he scored third goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Vissel Kobe, and this followed by a week late, scoring 3–2 win against FC Seoul in the AFC Champions League match, which saw Kashima Antlers eliminated in the group stage. A month later on 20 June 2015, Shibasaki played another important role when he set up the club's second and third goal of the game, in a 3–0 win against Yokohama F. Marinos. Shortly after, he suffered a foot injury that kept him out for a month. Shibasaki made his return to the starting line-up against FC Tokyo on 25 July 2015, where he scored the opening goal of the game after breaking a deadlock in the 30th minute and set up a winning goal for Gen Shoji, in a 2–1 win. Four days later on 29 July 2015 in a follow–up, Shibasaki scored twice for the side, in a 3–0 win against Sagan Tosu. Following his return, he later regained his first team place for the rest of the 2015 season. In the J.League Cup against Gamba Osaka, Shibasaki started the match and set up the club's third goal of the game, resulting a 3–0 win for Kashima Antlers to win the tournament.
Ahead of the 2016 season, Shibasaki switched number shirt from twenty to ten. At the start of the 2016 season, Shibasaki continued to regain his first team place for the side, playing in the central midfield position. It wasn't until on 10 April 2016 when he scored his first goal of the season and then setting up a goal for Caio, who scored twice in a game, in a 4–1 win against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. A month later on 29 May 2016, Shibasaki set up the club's first goal of the game and then scored the club's third goal of the game, in a 4–0 win against Ventforet Kofu. He later scored two goals throughout September, scoring against Kataller Toyama and Albirex Niigata. However, Shibasaki suffered a foot injury that kept him out for a month. Following the club's qualification to finish third place at the end of the J.League second stage, he didn't make his return until the final against Urawa Red Diamonds and played in both legs, as Kashima Antlers drew 2–2 on aggregate through away goal, resulting in the club becoming Champions. In the 2016 Club World Cup, Shibasaki started all three matches and helped Kashima Antlers progress in the knockout stages to the final. He rose to prominence after scoring twice for Kashima Antlers in the final of the 2016 Club World Cup against Real Madrid. Real Madrid would eventually go on to win the match 4–2 albeit in extra time, after a hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite losing in the final, Shibasaki's performance was praised by the media, both in and outside of Japan. In addition, he was awarded the Adidas Bronze Ball at the tournament. Following this, Shibasaki helped the club bounce back from the defeat, setting up two goals to beat Yokohama F. Marinos to help Kashima Antlers reach the Emperor's Cup Final. He helped the club beat Kawasaki Frontale 2–1 to win the Emperor's Cup Final. At the end of the 2016 season, he went on to make forty–six appearances and scoring six times in all competitions.
Tenerife Following the 2016 season, Shibasaki was linked a move away from Kashima Antlers, which the club's executives were willing to sell him at a right price. It was announced on 31 January 2017, Shibasaki signed a six-month contract with Spanish Segunda División side CD Tenerife. His departure was confirmed by Kashima Antlers the next day. He was linked with a move to Las Palmas but chose instead to join CD Tenerife.