After missing out on the likes of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, Jurgen Klopp turned to Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo, who was captain of Stuttgart at the time.
He was not well-known in England, was in his thirties and did not have a great reputation.
However, he steadily adapted to Klopp’s football and the Premier League, and from the middle of the season he was a regular in the starting line-up.
He has helped the team’s attacking sequences by winning the ball high up in midfield and has continued to perform well in front of the centre-backs, and now enjoys the trust of the supporters.
Although his appearances have been reduced since Arne Slot took over as manager, he has been very consistent when he has been on the pitch.
As well as being a defensive midfielder, he is also gaining a reputation as a centre-back and, like James Milner in the past, can play a game-clinching role.
The soon-to-be 32-year-old veteran midfielder has only been in the Premier League for about 18 months, but he cited the Manchester City game in March 2024 as the most enjoyable game of his short time in the league, and explained why every player on the pitch was playing at the top level.
“I really enjoyed that game because of the level of the game. The game is created not only by 11 players but 22. They all have to have high quality in that game. That’s the reason I enjoyed it because I always dreamed to play in that kind of high level game.”
The Wataru Endo Podcast
The captain of the national team will continue to play at Anfield instead of leaving this winter at the very least, despite reported interest from clubs in England such as Fulham.
He is a player who, in addition to being physical to the point where it is hard to believe he is over 30 years old, is also, above all, completely injury-free, which is sure to make him attractive not only to Liverpool, but to any club.
Will the former Stuttgart midfielder stay at Anfield next season and continue to play like a silver bullet…?