Stephen Eustaquio swiftly agreed to join Swansea City when the opportunity arose. Fresh from 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 City confirmed on Thursday the signing of the 29-year-old from Porto on a two-year deal with a potential extension. Eustaquio expressed that the chance to collaborate with head coach Vitor Matos, a former colleague at Porto, significantly influenced his decision.
In a statement released by Swansea, 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.”
Despite finishing 11th in the Championship last season, well below promotion contention, Eustaquio is aware of the challenges ahead in Swansea’s bid for Premier League promotion.
“The prospect of being part of a prominent club aiming to return to the top league was a major draw for me,” he remarked. “While it will undoubtedly be tough, approaching each game with focus could lead to a remarkable atmosphere in the stadium, potentially creating a memorable season. Who knows?”
Originally from Leamington, Ont., with Portuguese roots, Eustaquio relocated to Portugal as a child. Prior to his stint at Porto, he featured for Chaves in Portugal and Cruz Azul in Mexico. With over 150 appearances during his four-and-a-half years at Porto, Eustaquio also had a brief loan spell at Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC earlier this year.
Having earned 61 caps for Canada and represented the nation in the last two World Cups, Eustaquio made a significant impact at this summer’s tournament. His stoppage-time goal secured a 1-0 win over South Africa in the Round of 32 before Canada’s exit at the hands of Morocco. Eustaquio also took on the captaincy duties in several matches due to Alphonso Davies’ injury.
Reflecting on his World Cup journey, Eustaquio expressed, “This summer was incredible. It was a dream come true for us as a nation to progress so far in such a remarkable tournament.”
He is set to wear the No. 46 jersey for Swansea and could potentially debut in the upcoming match against Derby County this weekend.