Liverpool transfers: Who is defensive midfielder Wataru Endo?

Japanese international signs from Stuttgart for £16m

With Liverpool made to look foolish by Chelsea, Moises Caicedo, and Romeo Lavia, the Reds have made a transfer signing straight out of left field.

On Thursday morning, fans woke up to find out the club had struck a deal with Bundesliga club Stuttgart to sign 30-year-old defensive midfielder Wataru Endo. The deal is worth around £16 million, with Stuttgart happy to sell the Japanese international with one season left on his contract.

Endo is set for a Liverpool medical on Thursday and will be included in the side on Saturday to face Bournemouth.

Many Liverpool supporters will be underwhelmed by the transfer. Liverpool were ready to shell out nine figures to acquire Caidedo and around £50m to sign Lavia.

Yet, the Reds have now pivoted to a player for a fraction of those prices. Of course, if Endo beds into the team quickly and becomes a regular in the side, many fans will forget about the debacle that was the attempts to sign Caicedo and Lavia.

Signing a 30-year-old defensive midfielder seems like a quick fix. While it may be temporary, Endo will likely have plenty of chances to showcase his quality this season.

Perhaps one of the obvious problems is that Endo is 30 years old. But age is often only a number. Fabinho was 29 and still a major part of the Liverpool squad. Henderson was 32 and still had a place in the team.

The price of young defensive midfielders has sky-rocketed this summer thanks to the combination of Saudi Arabian clubs snatching up anyone with a pulse and Chelsea. If Endo succeeds, he could be another bargain transfer signing like Andrew Robertson, Joel Matip, James Milner, and Mohamed Salah.

There will be complaints by Liverpool supporters that the club didn’t spend enough money on players this summer. Yet, Liverpool have now signed three midfielders for approximately £111m (Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, and Endo). It would have cost Liverpool that same fee for Jude Bellingham, Caicedo, or Declan Rice alone.

Getting three adaptable midfielders rather than one is always a better deal. But in the world of EA FC, Football Manager, and social media, many fans don’t see it that way. Clubs are under pressure from some sections of their fanbases to spend money without reason.

Have Fenway Sports Group got every decision right since arriving at Anfield? Absolutely not. But is their decision to try and make the club sustainable a wise one? Yes.

Endo was Stuttgart’s captain and played 40 times in all competitions last season. He tallied six goals and five assists. In 3,523 minutes of football, Endo was yellow-carded just four times in all competitions.

In total, he made 133 appearances for the Swabians, who fought relegation last season and only saved their Bundesliga status by winning the relegation-promotion playoff against 2. Bundesliga team Hamburger SV, after arriving in 2019 from Belgium’s Sint-Truiden.

The midfielder played in Stuttgart’s 2023-24 season opener, a DFB Pokal first-round match against TSG Balingen. He scored a goal and played all 90 minutes, as Stuttgart routed Balingen 4-0.

Endo made just €659,984 playing for Stuttgart. He should get a nice bump in pay but nothing that will damage Liverpool’s wage bill.

His defensive statistics look a little worrying on paper. Endo averaged 2.10 tackles, 0.82 interceptions, 2.00 clearances, and 1.35 blocks per 90 minutes, according to Fbref.

The numbers weren’t the eye-catching figures displayed by Caicedo or Lavia. Endo did play in a team that fought relegation and with better players around him, could be the anchor in the midfield three Liverpool need.

There is no doubt Liverpool didn’t want to experience another embarrassment in the transfer market. Endo wanted to leave Stuttgart and now goes to a team that will play in Europe and (possibly) fight for a Premier League title.

Endo’s arrival shouldn’t stop Liverpool’s attempts to sign Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure. A deal for the tough-tackling Palace player may be difficult, however. Crystal Palace have no need to sell the Malian international.

Endo’s first taste of Premier League action could come on Saturday against Bournemouth. Liverpool thrashed Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield last season.