Wataru Endo has joined Liverpool in a surprise transfer from Stuttgart.
Liverpool have completed the signing of Japan international captain Wataru Endo from Stuttgart – with Jurgen Klopp dismissing doubts over the surprise transfer.
Endo has signed a four-year contract with the Reds, who have agreed a fee of around £16.25million with the Bundesliga side. The move is subject to a work permit being granted and international clearance, although no issues are expected.
Liverpool moved for the 30-year-old to address the lack of a proven defensive midfielder in Klopp’s squad following the departures of James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho having missed out on £175m duo Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who have instead joined Chelsea.
Endo will wear the number three jersey vacated by Fabinho. He had the same squad number during his time at Stuttgart.
The transfer means Liverpool have now spent almost £115m on overhauling their midfield this summer having already bought Argentina World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Hungary international Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.
Endo – who can also play at centre-back and right-back – emerged as a target for both Liverpool boss Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke after four impressive seasons at Stuttgart, who he first helped to promotion back to the Bundesliga and then became captain.
And Klopp is delighted with the purchase and believes doubters will be encouraged by a player who last season was one of the best-performing midfielders in the Bundesliga while scoring five goals and contributing five assists, predominantly from the number six position.
“I’m really happy,” said the Reds boss to LFC TV. “Wataru is a really good player. I know in this world of football how it goes and stuff like this, but have a look, have a look, because he’s a really good player.
“Experienced player, captain of Stuttgart, captain of Japan, speaks good English, nice fella, family man, machine on the pitch, good footballer on top of that, sensational attitude. So, I’m really happy. He’s a good footballer, very experienced and loves to work extremely hard.”
Endo becomes the latest national team captain in the squad, with Mohamed Salah, Szoboszlai, Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk all skippers of their respective countries. He missed only four games for Stuttgart in the last three years – one due to coronavirus, one through concussion protocols, one due to suspension and another because of an international call-up.
The Japan international is expected to first be available for selection for the Premier League trip to Newcastle United next weekend.