Wataru Endo grew up in Yokohama and began his career at Shonan Bellmare, before moving to Urawa Red Diamonds. He moved to Belgium with Sint-Truiden and then to VfB Stuttgart, where he became captain.
Liverpool signed him in August 2023, a surprise move for a 30-year-old. He quickly became a useful holding midfielder and won the League Cup in 2024 and the Premier League in 2024/25.
Endo captains Japan.
Playing style
Endo is a disciplined, intelligent defensive midfielder who protects the defence and keeps possession simply. He is strong in the tackle and reads the game well. His experience and professionalism made him a valuable squad player at Liverpool.
International career
Endo captains Japan and played at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, including the famous wins over Germany and Spain in Qatar.
Career in numbers
Endo’s senior club career, which began in 2010, has so far brought 528 appearances and 48 goals for 5 clubs. The 2014 season, with 7 goals from 39 matches for Shonan Bellmare, remains his highest tally. His busiest campaign was 2017, with 47 appearances. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.