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 chance to assist the Welsh club in their quest to return to the Premier League, especially under the guidance of a familiar coach.
Swansea recently confirmed the signing of the 29-year-old from Porto, where he penned a two-year deal with an option for an additional season. Eustaquio highlighted the significant influence of head coach Vitor Matos, who had previously worked with him at Porto, in his decision-making process.
Expressing his enthusiasm, 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, falling far from the promotion playoff spots.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Eustaquio acknowledged the tough road Swansea faces on their journey back to the Premier League. He emphasized, “The dream of being part of a big club looking to get back to the top league was the big attraction for me.”
Having been born in Leamington, Ont., to Portuguese parents and raised in Portugal, Eustaquio had stints with Portuguese club Chaves and Mexico’s Cruz Azul before his time at Porto. With over 150 appearances during his four-and-a-half-year tenure at Porto, he also briefly played for Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC earlier this year on loan.
Eustaquio, who boasts 61 caps for Canada and participated in the last two World Cups, reflected on his recent success at the tournament, including his crucial goal against South Africa. He expressed his joy, saying, “The fact that I was able to help the team with that goal against South Africa was a really big moment of happiness.”
The midfielder is set to wear jersey number 46 for Swansea and could potentially make his debut in the upcoming match against Derby County this weekend.