Stuttgart’s Japan midfielder Wataru Endo is completing a “dream” move to Liverpool, the Bundesliga club revealed on Thursday. Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness said that the defensive midfielder “had been cleared by the club for (contract) talks”.
“He flew to England for a medical check and wasn’t in training today. At the age of 30 he now has the opportunity to join Liverpool in the Premier League. It’s a dream of his,” Hoeness added. Reports Liverpool will pay approximately 20mn euros for Endo, whose contract in Stuttgart was due to expire in 2024.
Endo comes as a surprising addition to the Liverpool squad, with new German sporting director Jorg Schmadtke the architect of the deal. Liverpool have been on the hunt for a defensive midfielder since both captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho made the move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.

De Bruyne, Haaland and Messi nominated for UEFA player of the year
Manchester City duo Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are among the three finalists for the men’s UEFA player of the year award alongside Lionel Messi, European football’s governing body announced. The trio emerged as the leading vote-getters from a jury comprised of coaches of clubs in UEFA competitions, those in charge of European national teams and a select group of journalists.
The winner of the prize will be revealed on August 31 in Monaco at the Champions League group stage draw ceremony. Haaland finished as the Champions League’s top scorer last season with 12 goals, while De Bruyne – who had a leading seven assists – played an integral part in City lifting the trophy for the first time.
Messi, who left Paris Saint-Germain for Inter Miami this summer, won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, claiming the last major trophy missing
from his honours. City’s Pep Guardiola is among the coach of the year nominees after leading the club to a treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last season. He is joined by Italian pair Simone Inzaghi, who took Inter Milan to the Champions League final, and Luciano Spalletti, the coach who ended Napoli’s 33-year wait for the Serie A title.
Strasbourg sell top scorer
Diallo to Saudi club Al-Shabab
Senegalese striker Habib Diallo, who hit 20 Ligue 1 goals for Strasbourg last season, has joined the player exodus to Saudi Arabia and signed for Al-Shabab, the French club announced. French media reported that Strasbourg could receive as much as 20mn euros (21.75mn dollars), which would be a club record. The 28-year-old striker joined Strasbourg from Metz in 2020 and scored a total of 41 goals in 103 games in all competitions.