Wataru Endo’s Stealthy Age Game Leads to His Long-Awaited Liverpool Transfer

Liverpool’s acquisition of Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for £17 million appeared to be a last-minute move, but behind the scenes, Jurgen Klopp had been tracking the Japanese midfielder for years. After allowing key players like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to move to Saudi Arabia and missing out on targets like Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea, Liverpool finally secured Endo’s signature.

Endo made his debut for Liverpool in the thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against Newcastle last week. However, Klopp’s interest in him dates back three years when Liverpool faced Stuttgart in a friendly match, resulting in a 3-0 win for the Reds, with goals from Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, and Rhian Brewster.

During that friendly, Endo’s performance caught Klopp’s attention, prompting him to inquire about the player’s age. He turned to his fellow Japanese teammate, Takumi Minamino, and asked, “How old is that No. 3?” Endo, who was 27 at the time and firmly in his prime, playfully urged Minamino to fib about his age, suggesting, “Try to say 23 years old!”

Regardless of the age-related banter, Klopp’s interest in Endo remained undiminished. This persistence led to the Japanese midfielder signing a four-year contract with Liverpool on August 18th. He became the second Japanese player to don the Liverpool jersey, and Klopp hailed him as a “really good one” upon his arrival.

However, Endo faces stiff competition in Liverpool’s central midfield following the club’s £34.2 million signing of Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern. Klopp acknowledged that Endo is still adapting to Liverpool’s playing style, saying, “We’re still a counter-pressing team, with a focus on possession, which means you have to be in specific positions. And you can observe instances where he positions himself slightly too deep. I’ve had conversations with him, and we will address that. He’s eager to get it absolutely right, and in training, you can see that when the spaces are tighter, he operates like a well-oiled machine.”

As Liverpool’s midfield undergoes changes and tactical adjustments, Wataru Endo’s journey with the club promises to be an intriguing chapter in Klopp’s tenure as manager.