Liverpool have signed midfielder Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for a sum of around £16.2 million (19 million Euros), subject to a work permit and international clearance.
The 30-year-old international from Japan has agreed to a four-year deal.
After losing out on Chelsea on both Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia and Ecuadorian international Moises Caicedo, Liverpool has acquired Endo.
Endo was acquired primarily as a central defensive midfielder, however, he can also play at center back.
“It feels amazing,” he stated. “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.”
“I think I can help this club defensively and I will have good organisation in the middle.”
Following the departures of midfielders Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from the Reds this summer, Liverpool have now added Japan captain Endo, who was also Stuttgart’s captain.
Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, who were recently signed by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, started the team’s opening 1-1 tie with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
How Will Wataru Endo Fit Into Liverpool?
Wataru Endo is a Japanese footballer who was born on February 9, 1993, and currently captains the Japanese national team as a defensive midfielder or center-back.
With Shonan Bellmare, Liverpool’s latest signing Endo started his professional career.
READ MORE: Chelsea Beat Liverpool To Sign Romeo Lavia
He assisted Shonan in gaining promotion back to the J1 League after being demoted in 2013 by scoring 7 goals in 38 league games and leading his team to the 2014 J League Division 2 championship.
He kept up his form into the next season, scoring 4 goals in 31 league games to lead the squad to a comfortable eighth-place finish.
The new Liverpool signing played in 167 games for Shonan Bellmare and scored 23 goals in total.