Stephen Eustaquio eagerly seized the opportunity to join Swansea City following Canada’s successful World Cup campaign. The midfielder, fresh from helping Canada advance to the knockout stage for the first time, was enticed by the chance to assist the Welsh club in their pursuit of promotion to the Premier League and to reunite with familiar coach Vitor Matos.
In an announcement on Thursday, Swansea confirmed the signing of the 29-year-old from Porto on a two-year deal with an option for an additional season. Eustaquio expressed his excitement about working with Matos, emphasizing that the decision to join Swansea was an easy one for him.
Having finished 11th in the Championship last season, Swansea faces a challenging journey back to the Premier League. Eustaquio acknowledged the difficulty of the task but remained optimistic about the club’s potential for success, emphasizing the importance of taking each game as it comes.
Born in Leamington, Ontario, to Portuguese parents, Eustaquio relocated to Portugal as a child. Prior to his time at Porto, he played for Chaves in Portugal and Cruz Azul in Mexico. With over 150 appearances during his four-and-a-half-year tenure at Porto, Eustaquio also had a brief loan spell at Los Angeles FC earlier this year.
Eustaquio, who boasts 61 caps for Canada and has featured in the last two World Cups, played a pivotal role in Canada’s recent World Cup journey, scoring a crucial goal in their Round of 32 victory over South Africa. Reflecting on the tournament, he expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments and the joy of contributing to their success.
Set to wear the No. 46 jersey for Swansea, Eustaquio could make his debut for the club in the upcoming fixture against Derby County.