Stephen Eustaquio swiftly agreed to join Swansea City when the opportunity arose. Following his contributions to Canada’s advancement to the World Cup knockout stage, the midfielder was enticed by the prospect of aiding the Welsh club in their quest to return to the Premier League and reuniting with a familiar coach.
Swansea City announced on Thursday the signing of the 29-year-old from Porto, securing him on a two-year contract with an option for an additional season. Eustaquio emphasized the significance of working with head coach Vitor Matos, who had previously been associated with Porto, in his decision-making process.
Expressing his satisfaction with the move, 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 finished 11th in the Championship last season, positioning them far from the promotion playoff spots.
Acknowledging the challenging road ahead for Swansea’s return to the Premier League, Eustaquio highlighted the allure of being part of a club striving to reach the top tier. He remarked, “The dream of being part of a big club looking to get back to the top league was the big attraction for me. 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, Ontario, to Portuguese parents, Eustaquio relocated to Portugal as a child. Prior to his tenure at Porto, he competed for Portuguese club Chaves and Mexico’s Cruz Azul. Accumulating over 150 appearances during his four-and-a-half-year stay at Porto, he also had a brief loan spell with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC earlier this year.
With 61 caps for Canada, Eustaquio has represented the nation in the last two World Cups. Noteworthy was his crucial stoppage-time goal in Canada’s 1-0 triumph over South Africa in the Round of 32 this summer. Reflecting on his experiences, Eustaquio shared, “This summer was amazing. For us as a country, it was a dream come true to go so far in such an amazing tournament.”
Set to wear jersey number 46 for Swansea, Eustaquio is poised to potentially make his debut against Derby County this weekend.
