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Report: Liverpool midfielder ‘certain’ to leave in 2027
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- Report: Liverpool midfielder ‘certain’ to leave in 2027
Report: Liverpool midfielder 'certain' to leave in 2027
Wataru Endo Liverpool Future: January Exit Uncertainty Grows Over £16m Midfielder
Liverpool are again confronting uncomfortable questions around squad direction after a start that has left them fifth in the Premier League, the same finishing position that preceded Arne Slot's dismissal at the end of 2025-26. Under Andoni Iraola, there remains time for the campaign to settle, but early signs have done little to quieten debate around the medium-term futures of several senior players.
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Among them, Wataru Endo appears to be moving towards the end of the road at Anfield. According to the Liverpool Echo , "Endo will certainly leave the Reds in 2027. He is out of contract next summer with the only uncertainty being whether he departs in January or sees out his deal and leaves on a free transfer."
That framing is significant. It suggests Liverpool's internal decision may be less about whether Endo has a future at the club, and more about the timing and mechanics of his departure. With no renewal talks reported for Endo, Alisson or Virgil van Dijk, attention is naturally turning to whether the club will seek to create space, trim wage commitments and reshape the age profile of the squad.
Endo contract uncertainty puts Liverpool decision in focus
Endo arrived in 2023 for £16m, a transfer that caught many by surprise at the time. He did not fit the usual recruitment template and yet quickly proved his value through reliability, versatility and professionalism. He became trusted by Jürgen Klopp in difficult moments, often used to bring control and intensity when games needed seeing out.
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The picture now is very different. Injury disrupted his momentum last season and Iraola has yet to involve him in any meaningful way. Although there had been an indication he would receive opportunities, selection patterns so far point in another direction. At 33, Endo is entering a stage of his career where regular football matters, and Liverpool must decide whether keeping him until the summer serves any practical purpose.
Photo: IMAGO
January transfer window could shape Liverpool squad planning
If there is a market for Endo in January, Liverpool may feel this is the sensible moment to act. Any fee is likely to be modest, and probably well below the £16m they paid, but the wider calculation extends beyond recouping money. It is about squad efficiency, availability of minutes and clarity for all parties.
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There is also a human element. Endo has carried himself impeccably and, if his role is effectively redundant, a clean exit that allows him to play regularly elsewhere would make sense. Liverpool's recruitment team and coaching staff now need to determine whether his experience is required for the second half of the season, or whether the squad is already equipped to cope without him.
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It is hard not to feel a real sense of sadness at how this looks to be ending. Endo never arrived with fanfare, never demanded headlines and never acted like anything other than a consummate professional. He earned respect the proper way, through hard work, honesty and a willingness to do whatever the team needed.
If this report proves accurate, there will be plenty who feel he deserved a better final chapter at Liverpool. Supporters connect with players like Endo because they reflect the values people want to see, commitment, humility and total effort every single time they wear the shirt. Even when others had more natural quality, he often gave the side balance and calm.
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That said, football moves quickly and sentiment rarely drives major decisions. If Iraola does not see him as part of the plan, then letting him go in January may be the fairest outcome for everyone. Keeping a respected senior player on the fringes helps nobody, especially someone at his age who can still contribute as a starter elsewhere.
What matters now is handling it properly. Endo should leave with gratitude, not be quietly pushed aside and forgotten. He may not go down as one of the great Liverpool midfielders, but he absolutely gave this club something valuable. Players with his attitude are worth far more than transfer fees ever show.
