Wataru Endo has opened up about his ‘crazy’ move to Liverpool.
The Japan international made his debut barely 24 hours after becoming Jurgen Klopp’s third summer signing in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
Endo emerged as the Reds’ latest midfield target after they missed out on the signings of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who both joined Chelsea.
And the 30-year-old revealed the whirlwind events that led to his surprise move to Anfield earlier this week which culminated in his second-half bow.
He said: “It was so, so quick.
“At the beginning of the week, I was getting ready to play in the Bundesliga and at the end of it I am playing at Anfield in front of all these fans – it is crazy.
“I didn’t have time to do any training, only one day, and so I tried to get ready as best I could.
“I am an experienced player, so I need to accept and deal with even this situation, so for me it was hard, but it was [also] special.
“It was three or four days ago I heard that Liverpool wanted me, and it was so quick, I had to decide so quickly.
“But actually I couldn’t say no, because to play in the Premier League was always my dream.
“I always talk to my agent that I wanted to play Premier League, and play for a top, top team, so here I am!
“My agent called me, and it was a ‘yes’ straight away that I wanted to come here. I decided immediately.”
The former Stuttgart captain’s debut realised a lifelong ambition of someday plying his trade in the Premier League but did not anticipate it arriving soon.
However he admits that events around Liverpool’s failed pursuit of Caicedo coupled with the exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho offered fresh hope.
“To be honest I followed Liverpool’s news, that they wanted midfielders they wanted a number six,” added Endo.
“But I thought Caicedo had gone to Liverpool so when he went to Chelsea, I just thought ‘Maybe. Maybe’.
“I thought maybe they needed experienced midfielders or something like that, because Henderson had moved, and also Fabinho had moved to another club, so I thought there may be a chance.”