Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is super excited about the signing of Japan skipper Wataru Endo from Stuttgart.
Endo becomes the Reds’ third new signing of the summer window, following the arrivals of midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
The 30-year-old has penned a long-term contract with the club after successfully completing his medical.
“I’m really happy. Wataru is a really good player. I know in this world of football how it goes and stuff like this, but have a look, have a look, because he’s a really good player. Experienced player, captain of Stuttgart, captain of Japan, speaks good English, nice fella, family man, machine on the pitch, good footballer on top of that, sensational attitude. So, I’m really happy. He’s a good footballer, very experienced and loves to work extremely hard,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“Since there’s a rumour out or was a rumour out, I got plenty of messages from former players of mine and stuff like this. Everybody [was like], ‘If it’s true, this is a genius strike. I asked to sign him for years’ and stuff like this. It was a very positive thing in Germany – he’s super-highly respected.
“I think for Stuttgart it’s really hard to lose him but on the other side I think it’s a good deal as well, one year left [on his] contract. For him, it’s good. For the club, it’s good. For us, it’s really good. He is really happy to join us, which is nice as well.
“Absolutely. Again, in our club usually that’s the situation… if he’s not 30, firstly, I am not sure we get him. Second, he was always on my list, just usually we don’t sign players of this age group. He is obviously a top fit and we will have a lot of fun with him. I’m really sure he can help us immediately, which is super-cool because the season already started. So, he will show how good he is on the pitch and I can’t wait to have him around.
The German concluded: “Yeah, he had a full pre-season. I’m not sure he played all the pre-season games but he played pre-season games, so that’s all. He was in full training.
“When we spoke first time, he came off the training pitch! He’s in a good shape. Of course we need to figure out how quick can we put him in, but it will not be a physical problem, let me say it like that. And the rest, he should play here the position he played for Stuttgart, so there’s not a massive difference.
“Yes, of course, we do things slightly differently but in the end it would be cool if he could win challenges and pass the ball from A to B – and he will do that, definitely, from day one. Look, I know how this football world works and I can see that in people’s eyes.
“The names were flying around and when they think, ‘OK, they have them, they have them, they have them’, do me a favour, give us a second and let’s have a look. He’s really good and I’m really happy with that signing, I can’t say it differently. It’s a really good one.”
Read More Liverpool Coverage:
- Report: Tottenham Closing In On Deal For Liverpool Target
- Report: Liverpool Face Competition In Race For Andre Trindade
- Jurgen Klopp Gives Alexis Mac Allister Update After Knee Injury Against Bayern Munich
- Report: Liverpool To Make ‘Third & Ultimate’ Offer For Romeo Lavia
- Report: Liverpool Join Race For Moises Caicedo
- Jurgen Klopp Unhappy With Liverpool’s Defending In Loss To Bayern Munich
- Report: Liverpool Have Opened Talks To Sign Gabri Veiga