Wataru Endō Biography

 Wataru Endō (遠藤 航, Endō Wataru, born 9 February 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Liverpool and the Japan national team.

Wataru Endō

Endō with VfB Stuttgart in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Wataru Endō[1]
Date of birth	9 February 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Liverpool
Number	3
Youth career
2008–2010	Shonan Bellmare
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2015	Shonan Bellmare	158	(23)
2016–2018	Urawa Red Diamonds	75	(5)
2018–2020	Sint-Truiden	29	(2)
2019–2020	→ VfB Stuttgart (loan)	21	(1)
2020–2023	VfB Stuttgart	99	(12)
2023–	Liverpool	20	(1)
International career‡
2012	Japan U19	4	(0)
2015–2016	Japan U23	11	(2)
2021	Japan Olympic (O.P.)	6	(0)
2015–	Japan	60	(3)
Medal record Representing  Japan AFC Asian Cup Runner-up 2019 AFC U-23 Championship 2016
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:10, 10 March 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:36, 21 February 2024 (UTC)

Endō 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. Endō joined Liverpool in August 2023.

Endō made his debut for the Japan national team in 2015, and has since made 60 appearances for the national team, including in two FIFA World Cups and two AFC Asian Cups. He captained Japan for the first time in June 2023.