Stephen Eustaquio readily accepted the invitation to join Swansea City without much persuasion. Fresh from aiding Canada in reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, the midfielder was enticed by the opportunity to assist the Welsh club in their pursuit of a return to the Premier League and to work alongside a familiar coach.
Swansea City officially confirmed the signing of the 29-year-old from Porto, agreeing to a two-year deal with the option for an additional season. Eustaquio emphasized that the chance to collaborate with head coach Vitor Matos, a former colleague at Porto, significantly influenced his decision.
Expressing his satisfaction with the move, Eustaquio stated, “The decision was almost automatic for me. I am confident in what I can achieve here, so I am delighted with this choice.” Despite finishing 11th in the Championship last season, far from the promotion playoffs, Eustaquio acknowledged the challenging journey that lies ahead for Swansea City to regain Premier League status.
“The aspiration of being part of a prominent club striving to ascend to the top league was the main appeal for me,” he remarked. “Undoubtedly, it will be a tough road, but taking it one game at a time could lead to a remarkable atmosphere in the stadium and potentially a memorable season. Who knows?”
Originally from Leamington, Ont., to Portuguese parents, Eustaquio relocated to Portugal during his childhood. Before his tenure at Porto, he competed for Chaves in Portugal and Cruz Azul in Mexico. With over 150 appearances during his four-and-a-half years at Porto, he also had a brief loan spell with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC this year.
Eustaquio, with 61 international caps for Canada, participated in the last two World Cups. Notably, he scored the decisive goal in stoppage time during Canada’s 1-0 triumph over South Africa in the Round of 32 at this summer’s tournament, where Canada was ultimately ousted by Morocco after being co-hosts. He often wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Alphonso Davies due to a hamstring injury.
Reflecting on his recent accomplishments, Eustaquio shared, “This summer was exceptional. It was a dream fulfilled for our nation to progress so far in such a remarkable tournament. Setting new records was incredible, and contributing that goal against South Africa brought immense joy.”
Eustaquio is set to don the No. 46 jersey for Swansea City and could potentially make his debut in the upcoming match against Derby County this weekend.