Shintaro Nago

who plays as a central midfielder for club Avispa Fukuoka.

Playing career Nago was born in Osaka Prefecture on April 17, 1996. In March 2018, it was announced he would be joining J1 League club Kashima Antlers for the 2019 season but in May 2018 Nago was confirmed as a designated special player for the remainder of the 2018 season. This would allow him to play for both Juntendo University and Kashima Antlers.

In August 2018, Nago made his debut for Kashima in a 4–2 league defeat to Nagoya Grampus.

Nago scored his first goal for the club in the quarter-finals of the 2019 J.League Cup, in a 3–2 victory over Urawa Reds.

In 2021, Nago was loaned out to J1 club Shonan Bellmare. He made nineteen appearances and scored three goals. His first goal was scored on his first start for the club in a 3–1 league win over Vegalta Sendai.

Nago continued to be a squad player for the following two seasons, only making 23 appearances across the 2022 and 2023. In the 2024 season he was afforded more game time under new manager Ranko Popović and paid him back with seven goals and assists in May and was unlucky not to win the Monthly MVP award.

Despite appearing in over forty matches for the club in the 2024, the most appearances he has made in his six seasons with Kashima, at the end of the season it was announced that he would be joining Avispa Fukuoka for the 2025 season.

Career statistics