Wataru Endo, born on the 9th of February 1993 and now aged 31, hails from Japan. A midfielder by trade with an affinity for the central defensive midfield area, Endo presently occupies the number 3 jersey for Liverpool. Standing at 5ft 9in (1.76m), with a weight of 11st 6lb (73kg), he's a sturdy figure in the heart of the pitch. Besides his club duties, Endo has also worn the national colours of Japan with pride. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value hovers around £11m, and his tenure at Liverpool is set to last until the 30th of June, 2027, providing a further 2 years and 6 months of service.
Endo's footballing journey commenced in earnest with Shonan Bellmare in the J1 League in Japan, signing for the outfit in July 2010. In his initial season, he made six first team appearances, bagging a solitary goal. Over time, his contributions increased, with his third season in 2012 heralding 32 appearances and seven goals. His final season with Shonan Bellmare in 2015 saw him contribute five goals in 31 appearances. The dawn of 2016 set the scene for a new chapter in his career, as he secured a transfer to Urawa Red Diamonds, also in the J1 League in Japan, for an undisclosed fee.
Endo's time at the Urawa Red Diamonds culminated in 73 first team league appearances spread over three seasons, with a notable tally of five goals. His next destination, in July of 2018, was Sint-Truiden in the Pro League in Belgium, a move employed for an undisclosed fee. He made a total of 20 appearances for Sint-Truiden over two seasons, scoring two goals. In August 2019, he was on the move yet again, this time to Stuttgart in Germany's Bundesliga, on a loan deal.
At Stuttgart, Endo quickly found his stride, making 21 first-team appearances and netting one goal in his debut season. Ironing out a permanent transfer from Sint-Truiden for a fee of around £1.5m in July 2020, he went onto rack up 132 appearances and scored a total of 16 goals in his subsequent four seasons at Stuttgart. His considerable achievements with Stuttgart earned him a ticket to the English Premier League, where he joined Liverpool for a fee of £16m in August 2023.
His stint at Liverpool thus far amasses to 37 first team league appearances and a single goal, with the 2024 - 2025 season well underway. His duties extend beyond the league, having participated in FA Cup, League Cup, World Cup Qualifiers Asia, the Europa League, and the Champions League. Amidst these achievements, his dedication to his originating country stands proud, having represented Japan in the World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024 - 2026 round where he marked his presence with a goal.
