Japan captain Wataru Endo has official joined Liverpool from Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, signing a long-term contract with the Reds.
Wataru Endo is officially a Liverpool player. The Reds have made an official statement to announce that they have landed the Japanese international, who has signed a long-term contract with them. But the transfer will go through once he has completed his medical checks and personal terms.
Wataru Endo has come out of nowhere for Liverpool. After making a meal of signing Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, the Reds were scouring the market for an alternative. And the VfB Stuttgart captain emerged as a surprise option to bolster the Liverpool midfield this summer.
The 30-year-old has gone under the radar in his career thus far, representing VfB Stuttgart in the last four seasons. He turned out 133 times for the Bundesliga club, chipping in with 15 goals and 12 assists. And after four years with the German outfit, Endo has earned the biggest move in his career, joining Liverpool.
Endo’s move might have come out of nowhere. But he has been one of the most underrated midfielders in Germany during his stint with Stuttgart. In addition, the Japanese international is a leader, having been the captain of his club and country for a long time. So his arrival might bode well for Liverpool.
Welcome, @wataru0209 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/sAXa6P2ju1
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 18, 2023
The Reds set their sights on Endo earlier this week after facing defeats in the races to sign Caicedo and Lavia. And Liverpool moved quickly to secure Endo’s services, sealing an agreement on Thursday. With the move now complete, the 30-year-old has expressed his delight at moving to Anfield.
He said, “I’m very happy right now and I’m so excited to join a big club in Liverpool. It feels amazing and this is my dream. It’s always [been] a dream to play [in the] Premier League and with one of the biggest clubs in the world. It’s a dream come true for me. It’s going to be the first time for me that I play at Anfield.”
“I can’t wait to play at Anfield in front of Liverpool fans. I play as a No.6 and I’m like a bit more [of a] defensive player. I think I can help this club defensively and I will have good organisation in the middle. I think that’s my job. I am very excited to join this club and I am looking forward to seeing you at Anfield!”
The official announcement suggests Endo has signed a long-term contract with Liverpool. And the deal will go through once he has completed his medical checks. Meanwhile, a report by BBC has claimed that the duration of Endo’s agreement is for four years. And the Reds have paid €19 million to secure his services.
Making a meal of the Caicedo and Lavia deals? That’s rich. For Lavia it is easier to address. The club simply didn’t agree with the valuation of the player. At 19 and given his experience, the club thought him overpriced. His choosing Chelsea where he will hardly play shows that his attitude is wanting too.
For Caicedo, Brighton confirmed that there was nothing unprofessional about Liverpool’s conduct. The player made his choice to go to Chelsea, with details emerging that his payday there is closer to ours for Mo Salah, about 35,000 short. This for an unproven 21-year old? LFC just doesn’t operate that way. We are a club with a distinct identity, not unlike Ajax or Barcelona in that regard.
That said, it is all water under the bridge. The battle is on and I still can’t wait to see how we proceed. There is a saying from the Kop Nation, that we climbed the hill in our own special way. I love that. We are defiant and will adapt as we move along. Life doesn’t afford us the luxury to stop and mope. We move ahead. YNWA!