Stephen Eustaquio swiftly agreed to join Swansea City when the opportunity arose. Recently aiding Canada in reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, the midfielder was enticed by the prospect of assisting the Welsh club in their quest to return to the Premier League and reuniting with a familiar coach.
Swansea officially confirmed the signing of the 29-year-old from Porto, inking a two-year deal with an additional season option. Eustaquio emphasized the significant role played by head coach Vitor Matos, a former colleague at Porto, in his decision to make the move.
Expressing his excitement, Eustaquio stated, “It was almost a no-brainer for me. I know what I’m going to get here, so I’m very happy that I made this decision.” Swansea concluded the previous Championship season in 11th place, far from the promotion playoff spots.
Acknowledging the challenging path back to the Premier League, Eustaquio highlighted the allure of being part of a club with aspirations for top-flight football. He mentioned, “Obviously, it’s going to be very hard, but at the same time, if you think game by game, it’s very possible to create a special atmosphere here in the stadium, and it might be a special season. Who knows?”
Originally from Leamington, Ont., and raised in Portugal, Eustaquio had stints at Portuguese clubs Chaves and Porto before joining Swansea. With over 150 appearances during his four-and-a-half years at Porto, he also had a brief loan spell at Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC this year.
Having earned 61 caps for Canada and featured in the last two World Cups, Eustaquio was a standout performer at the recent tournament. His stoppage-time goal secured Canada’s 1-0 triumph over South Africa in the Round of 32 before Canada’s elimination by Morocco. Eustaquio, who often wore the captain’s armband in Alphonso Davies’ absence due to injury, reflected on the national team’s remarkable journey.
Looking ahead, Eustaquio is set to wear jersey number 46 for Swansea and may make his debut in the upcoming match against Derby County.