1-0 defeat to Independiente Santa Fe in the J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship and finally in the FIFA Club World Cup. Kashima impressively ended up as runners-up in the competition, beating Auckland City FC, Mamelodi Sundowns and Atlético Nacional on their way to a gutsy extra-time defeat in the final against a star-studded Real Madrid team. Nagaki played 114 minutes in the final. It was almost a double for Kashima, as they finished runners-up in the league on goal difference in the 2017 season. They did win some silverware though, with a 3-2 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in the Japanese Super Cup – Nagaki being used as a second half substitute. Nagaki made his debut in the AFC Champions League in this season, playing 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over K League outfit Ulsan Hyundai. Nagaki scored his first goal in a continental competition, turning in a ball across the box from Atsutaka Nakamura, but it was not enough in eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat to Brisbane Roar. Kashima topped their group in the first stage of the competition, but were knocked out in the round of 16 against Guangzhou Evergrande. The 2018 AFC Champions League was much more fruitful for Kashima, as they won the competition for the first time in their history after a 2-0 aggregate win over Persepolis. Nagaki played his highest number of minutes for Kashima in the 2019 season, regularly playing in the starting XI and making 50 appearances across all competitions. This was the first season without a major trophy for Nagaki, but Kashima were runners-up in the Emperor's Cup after a 2-0 defeat to Vissel Kobe. Kashima made it into the quarter finals of the 2019 AFC Champions League, but were again knocked out by Guangzhou Evergrande. In the 2020 season under new manager Antônio Carlos Zago, Nagaki played less frequently than previous seasons, only making 12 league starts with only a handful of 90 minute appearances. Kashima finished 5th in the league. The 2021 season also proved difficult for Nagaki – appearing mainly in cup competitions, he only played 450 league minutes throughout the season. At the end of the season, it was announced that he would be rejoining his first club Shonan Bellmare on a free transfer after five seasons with Kashima. Nagoya Grampus After playing only 11 matches from the start to the middle of the