Liverpool have completed the transfer of Wataru Endo from VfB Stuttgart in a deal worth around €19m

Liverpool have completed the signing of defensive midfielder Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for around €19 million.

The Japan international has signed a four-year contract at Anfield.

Liverpool turned their attention to Endo this week after missing out on their pursuit of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lafia, who both opted to sign for Chelsea.

“I’m really happy,” manager Jurgen Klopp told LFCTV.

“I know in this world of football how things are and things like that, but take a look, because he’s a really good player.

“Experienced player, captain of Stuttgart, captain of Japan, speaks good English, nice guy, family man, machine on the pitch, good football player and on top of that, an exciting attitude.

“He’s a good footballer with a lot of experience and likes to work very hard.”

“I am very happy now and very excited to be joining a big club in Liverpool,” Endo told Liverpoolfc.com.

“It feels great and that’s my dream. It’s always been a dream to play in the Premier League and with one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“I can’t wait to play at Anfield in front of the Liverpool fans. I play as a number 6. I think I can help this club defensively and I’ll have a good organization in the middle. I think that’s my job.”

Primarily bought as a defensive midfielder, Endo can also operate at right-back and right-back. He has only missed three games for VfB Stuttgart over the past three seasons.

Another attraction for Liverpool is his leadership skills after the exit of experienced midfielders such as Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho this summer.

He will complement the club’s current group of national team captains that includes Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Dominic Zuboszlai and Mohamed Salah.

His availability for Saturday’s game against Bournemouth will depend on whether his work permit and international clearance are granted in time.

Endo has been capped 50 times by the Japanese national team and represented his country during the 2022 World Cup.

What will Endo bring to Liverpool?

Analysis by German football expert Sebastian Stafford Blore

There is no reason to feel confused with Wataru Endo. He’s a fierce competitor and an excellent professional, but also a great role model – and how important that is to Liverpool, with their developing group of young midfielders.

There is also no doubt that Stuttgart would have been relegated from the Bundesliga last season without Endo. He’s one of the most ball-winning players in Germany, and there’s an energy to the way he blocks his defence, which must make him so difficult to play against.

It doesn’t stop. He is unrelenting.

He can play a little bit too. No one would call him a deep playmaker or playmaker, but he’s no simple stopper.

He can pass and his technique is good, so he will have no problem fitting into Liverpool’s technical standards. And with James Milner gone and Jordan Henderson departed for Saudi Arabia, Jurgen Klopp has a leadership deficit that needs addressing. Endo can be that kind of person. He is highly respected by his colleagues past and present.

Why did he not leave Stuttgart? That’s a question for him really, but he’s a father of five and you could imagine it would take a special opportunity to uproot his family.

(Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)