Liverpool have announced the signing of Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo from Stuttgart.
The 30-year-old joins for a reported fee of £16.2m and becomes Jurgen Klopp's third signing of the summer after Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Endo is believed to have signed a four-year deal with the Reds until 2027, and the Japan international will wear the number three shirt during his time on Merseyside.
"I'm very happy right now and I'm so excited to join a big club in Liverpool," Endo told liverpoolfc.com after completing his medical and signing his contract.
"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."
© Reuters
Liverpool have been searching far and wide for a new defensive midfielder to replace Fabinho, who was allowed to leave in a £40m deal for Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad earlier this summer.
The Reds had agreed to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion in a British-record £110m deal, but the Ecuadorian snubbed Klopp's side to join Chelsea for £115m.
A similar story befell Liverpool in their pursuit of Romeo Lavia, who was the subject of a successful bid from the Merseyside giants before Chelsea seduced him away from Southampton.
The likes of Cheick Doucoure, Mario Lemina, Joao Palhinha and Boubacar Kamara had been mooted as alternative options, but Endo is raring to get going as Liverpool's new number six after being cherry-picked from the Reds' midfield shortlist.
"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," the former Stuttgart lynchpin added.
"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!"
We have agreed a deal to sign @wataru0209 from VfB Stuttgart on a long-term contract, subject to international clearance and work permit application 🙌🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 18, 2023
Endo turned out for Urawa Reds in his native Japan before joining Belgian outfit Sint-Truiden in 2018, although he was loaned out to Stuttgart for the 2019-20 season and made his stay permanent that same summer, having helped propel Die Roten back into the Bundesliga.
The 30-year-old made 133 appearances for Stuttgart in all competitions, scoring 15 goals and setting up 12 more in the process, including six goals and five assists from 40 matches last season.
Endo donned the captain's armband for Stuttgart in the 2022-23 campaign and also scored on his final appearance for the club - a 4-0 DFB-Pokal first-round win over TSG Balingen last weekend.
The midfielder - who has also played as a centre-back during his career - has been capped on 50 occasions by Japan and has represented his nation at two World Cups, playing a key role in helping the Samurai Blue reach the last 16 in Qatar.
Endo will be eligible to make his debut for his new team in Saturday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth if the Reds registered him by 12pm on Friday.
Ben Knapton
