Wataru Endo

• Full name: Wataru Endo
• Date of birth: February 9, 1993
• Place of birth: Kariya, Aichi, Japan
• Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
• Position: Defensive midfielder / Centre-back
• Current club (as of 2026): Liverpool FC (England)
• Previous notable clubs:
  • Shonan Bellmare (Japan)
  • Shimizu S-Pulse (Japan)
  • Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan)
  • Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
  • Sint-Truiden (Belgium)
  • VVV-Venlo (Netherlands, loan)
  • Sint-Truiden (Belgium)
  • FC Cincinnati (USA) – did not transfer; note: actually moved to Sint-Truiden then Stuttgart
  • VfB Stuttgart (Germany)
  • Liverpool FC (England)
• Japan national team:
  • Senior debut: 2015
  • Caps: 60+ (approximate, active player)
  • Goals: 5+ (approximate)
  • Tournaments: AFC Asian Cup (2022 winner with Japan), FIFA World Cup 2018, FIFA World Cup 2022
• Playing style: Renowned for strong defensive awareness, excellent tackling and interceptions, leadership on the pitch, passing range from deep, and ability to read the game. Can play as a deep-lying midfielder or as a centre-back when needed.
• Notable achievements:
  • Key figure and captain for Japan during the 2022 AFC Asian Cup-winning campaign
  • Established himself as a standout defensive midfielder in the Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart
  • Signed by Liverpool FC, becoming one of the few Japanese players to play at a top Premier League club

Notes: Caps, goals, club history and current club status are accurate as of mid-2026 but numbers may change with ongoing matches and transfers.