Japan Asian Players in Europe

CD Leganés unveil new signing Gaku Shibasaki

Japanese midfielder Gaku Shibasaki spoke to the media for the first time following his signing for CD Leganés.

The 2016 J1 League winner and Kashima Antlers legend swap Japan for Spain in January of 2017 when he signed with Segunda Division side Tenerife. After a slow start, Gaku began to adapt and impress at the Estadio de Tenerife. Getafe, who just won promotion to La Liga in 2017/18, took notice of Gaku’s talent and quickly signed the midfielder on a 3-year deal.

Gaku returned to the second-tier of Spanish football in 2019/20 with Deportivo La Coruna before joining the recently-relegated CD Leganés. An excellent technician as well as a hard worker, Gaku on a 3-year contract with Los Pepineros and, at just 28 years old, still have many playing years ahead of him.