Transfers: Liverpool sign Wataru Endo on a four-year deal

Liverpool have signed Japan midfielder Wataru Endo on a four-year deal, subject to international clearance and work permit application.

Endo, 30, has signed for a reported £19million (€22.2) fee from Bundesliga club Stuttgart.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: "I'm very happy right now and I'm so excited to join a big club in Liverpool.

"It feels amazing and this is my dream. It's always (been) a dream to play (in the) Premier League and with one of the biggest clubs in the world. It's a dream come true for me."

Endo's arrival comes after Liverpool were unsuccessful in trying to sign Moises Caiceido and Romeo Lavia, both of whom have joined Chelsea.

Earlier today the Blues completed the signing of midfielder Lavia from Southampton for a reported £53million, rising to £58m, taking their total number of first-team acquisitions this summer to eight.

The 19-year-old, who has played just 29 times in the Premier League, has signed a seven-year deal having made clear earlier this week his desire to move to Stamford Bridge over Liverpool, who also had a bid accepted.

The club has now spent more than £350m during this transfer window once performance-related add-ons are taken into account, though that has been significantly offset by fees received for player sales.

Lavia told the club's website: "I can't wait to meet all my new team-mates and build a chemistry together to achieve great things together."

Lavia, who made his Belgium debut in a friendly win against Germany in March, will likely compete with Enzo Fernandez and fellow new-signing Moises Caicedo - the two most expensive players in English transfer history - for a starting place in Mauricio Pochettino's midfield.

Chelsea broke that record for the second time in eight months on Monday with