Wataru Endo: The Unheralded Stuttgart Hero Set to Join Liverpool

We may have known little of him at the start of the week, but Wataru Endo is set to leave a big hole behind as far as Stuttgart are concerned.

Liverpool are on the brink of signing the 30-year-old Japanese midfielder from the German side, with the Reds having spent an entire summer trying to seal a defensive midfield signing.

The move has come as a surprise to many, as Endo remains a relatively unknown quantity in England. But he is clearly held in high regard at the club he joined from Sint-Truidense in 2020, highlighted by the disappointment expressed by the manager he will leave behind.

Stuttgart Boss Sebastian Hoeness: “It’s a Dream Move”

Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness has admitted he is “not thrilled” by the prospect of losing his captain but conceded that it is a “dream” move for the midfielder.

“At the age of 30 he now has the opportunity to join Liverpool in the Premier League. It’s a dream of his,” admitted Hoeness.

“From a sporting point of view, of course, I’m not thrilled. Wataru is an important player both athletically and personally. He’s our captain. He has made 99 of 102 possible Bundesliga games. He was always there in important moments.”

Pellegrino Matarazzo: “He’s Like a Soldier Who Closes the Holes”

Those sentiments were echoed by the midfielder’s former manager Pellegrino Matarazzo, the man who handed the Stuttgart captaincy to Endo.

Matarazzo labelled his skipper a “soldier” back in October 2020, saying: “Of course, Wataru is important for our game. He is a link player and like a soldier who closes the holes.”

Endo Played Against Liverpool in Pre-Season

Endo played against Liverpool in pre-season just two months prior to those comments, when the Reds ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in Austria.

Later, in 2021, Stuttgart’s former sporting director Sven Mislintat described Endo as “incredibly valuable” and talked up the versatility of which Liverpool could become the beneficiaries.

“As a player and as a person, he’s simply incredibly valuable,” said Mislintat. “He’s one of these anchors, a focal point in our system. Whether he plays as a centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, it’s good that he’s there and performs.”

Endo’s Most Crucial Goal: Securing Stuttgart’s Bundesliga Safety

The Japanese international went on to score one of the most crucial goals in Stuttgart’s history with an injury-time winner to secure the club’s Bundesliga safety back in 2021/22.

The German side beat FC Koln 2-1 to narrowly avoid relegation on the final day of the season as Endo made himself a hero among the Stuttgart faithful.

Why Liverpool Needed Endo

Liverpool look close to finally securing a No. 6 signing after kicking off their 2023/24 campaign without a specialist defensive midfielder in the squad for the trip to Chelsea.

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