Wataru Endō

Wataru Endo (遠藤 航, Endō Wataru; born 9 February 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or a centre-back for Premier League club Liverpool.

Endo began his career at J1 League club Shonan Bellmare before moving to Urawa Red Diamonds in 2016, where he won the league title and the 2017 AFC Champions League. In 2018, he joined Sint-Truiden of the Belgian Pro League, before being loaned to Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart in 2019. He signed permanently with Stuttgart in April 2020, captaining them during his final season in Germany. Endo joined Liverpool in August 2023.

Endo made his debut for the Japan national team in 2015, and has since made over 70 appearances for the national team, including in two FIFA World Cups and two AFC Asian Cups. He was designated captain of the national team in June 2023. Endo announced his retirement from international football in June 2026 shortly following the beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Endo began his professional career with Shonan Bellmare. After being relegated in 2013, he would help Shonan regain promotion back to the J1 League, scoring seven goals in 38 league matches as they won the 2014 J.League Division 2 title. His form continued into the following season, where he scored four goals in 31 league matches and helped his side to a comfortable 8th-placed finish.

Endo recorded a total of 23 goals in 167 matches during his tenure at the club.

Endo's performances were noticed and he was quickly signed by fellow J1 League side Urawa Red Diamonds, who had finished as runners-up the previous season. In his first campaign with his new club, Endo claimed the 2016 J.League Cup, scoring the winning penalty in the final shoot-out. The following season, he won the 2017 Suruga Bank Championship, as well as the greatest honour in Asian football, the 2017 AFC Champions League.

Throughout his time at Urawa Red Diamonds, Endo accumulated a total of six goals in 109 matches.

Endo joined Belgian Pro League outfit Sint-Truiden in 2018, playing one year at the club and scoring two goals.

On 13 August 2019, Endo was loaned out to German club VfB Stuttgart until the end of the season. In April 2020, Stuttgart signed Endo permanently. On 26 November 2020, Endō extended his contract with VfB Stuttgart until June 2024.

On 25 February 2022, Endo scored Stuttgart's only goal in a 2–1 loss to 1899 Hoffenheim. He scored again in the club's 3–2 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. On 14 May 2022, Endo scored the winning goal in stoppage time of a 2–1 victory against 1. FC Köln to save Stuttgart from the relegation play-offs and secure their place in the 2022–23 Bundesliga.

Endo's final appearance for Stuttgart was in a DFB-Pokal first round match against TSG Balingen on 12 August 2023, where he scored the fourth goal of a 4–0 win.

On 18 August 2023, Endo signed a four-year deal with Premier League club Liverpool for a fee of £16 million. He became just the second male Japanese footballer to play for the club after Takumi Minamino who joined the club in 2020. The following day, he made his Premier League and club debut against Bournemouth, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute. Endo was praised for his performance, only misplacing one pass. On 27 August, Endo made his first Liverpool and Premier League start in an away victory against Newcastle United. On 27 September, he made his first full Anfield appearance and contributed to Liverpool's victory in the third round of the EFL Cup against Leicester City, assisting Dominik Szoboszlai for the deciding goal. On 26 October 2023, Endo scored his first goal for Liverpool in a 5–1 win over Toulouse at Anfield in the UEFA Europa League.

On 3 December 2023, Endo scored his first Premier League goal, an equaliser just four minutes after being substituted on, in a 4–3 victory over Fulham. Afterwards, he started the next seven fixtures as Liverpool achieved victories against Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Burnley. In recognition of his efforts, Endo was voted Liverpool's Player of the Month for December. He played the full 120 minutes of the 2024 EFL Cup final, in which Liverpool defeated Chelsea 1–0, earning Endo his first trophy with the club.

In the 2024–25 season, Endo made 20 appearances in the Premier League and was part of the Liverpool team that won the title that season. In doing so, Endo became only the fourth Japanese player to win the Premier League after Shinji Kagawa, Shinji Okazaki and Takumi Minamino.

On 23 July 2015, Japan's coach Vahid Halilhodžić called Endo up to the squad for the upcoming 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup. On 2 August 2015, he made his international debut in the opening game of the competition in a 2–1 defeat to North Korea. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, although he did not play in any of their matches.

Endō was again in the Japan squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the team reached the round of 16 before losing to Croatia on penalties.

As of September 2024, Endo has scored four international goals. He was named captain of the national team in June 2023. In January 2024, he was named for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final squads, and scored a late goal for Japan in the 2–1 loss against Iraq in their second group match.

On 15 May 2026, he was named in Japan's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, he withdrew from the squad due to a foot injury that he had sustained in February and was replaced by Shuto Machino on 11 June. Following his withdrawal, Endo announced his retirement from international football.

Endo mainly plays as a defensive midfielder, but can also play as a centre-back. His ability to read the game has helped him gain success in the Bundesliga, and he has gained reputation as a prolific ball-winner. While playing in Germany, he topped the Bundesliga for most duels, and second for possession won and tackles.

The Premier League's official website states that at Liverpool, Endo's biggest role is picking up loose balls and recycling possession efficiently. He is also able to make active plays when needed, forcing turnovers and making tackles.

In June 2025, Endo launched a non-profit organisation called "SEKAI NI WATARU Project". The organisation's purpose is to provide a development program and scholarship (including study abroad) for youths aged 7–12, with a focus on developing critical and independent thinking. Endo's brother is a representative director of the organisation. The name of the project translates into "across the world" and is a pun on his name, as it shares the same reading as the word "to navigate".

Japan Pro-Footballers Association Best XI: 2022, 2023, 2024

AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2023