Stephen Eustaquio swiftly agreed to join Swansea City when presented with the opportunity. Fresh from aiding Canada in reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, the midfielder was attracted by the chance to assist the Welsh club in their quest to return to the Premier League and collaborate once again with a familiar coach.
Swansea City recently announced the signing of the 29-year-old from Porto on a two-year deal with an option for an additional season. Eustaquio expressed that the prospect of working under head coach Vitor Matos, who he previously worked with at Porto, heavily influenced his decision.
Describing the move as almost instinctive, 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 the promotion playoff spots, Eustaquio is well aware of the challenges Swansea faces in returning to the Premier League.
Eustaquio highlighted that the allure of being part of a significant club striving to regain a place in the top league was a major draw for him. He acknowledged the difficulty of the task but expressed optimism by focusing on taking it one game at a time and potentially creating a special atmosphere at the stadium for a memorable season.
Originally from Leamington, Ontario, with Portuguese roots, Eustaquio relocated to Portugal as a child. Prior to his tenure 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 with Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer earlier in the year.
Having earned 61 caps for Canada and represented the nation in the last two World Cups, Eustaquio made a significant impact at the most recent tournament. His stoppage-time goal secured Canada’s 1-0 win over South Africa in the Round of 32 before Canada’s elimination by Morocco. Eustaquio also took on the captain’s role in several matches due to Alphonso Davies’ injury.
Reflecting on his summer achievements, Eustaquio expressed his delight, saying, “This summer was amazing. For us as a country, it was a dream come true to go so far in such an amazing tournament.” He emphasized the joy of breaking records and contributing to the team’s success, particularly his crucial goal against South Africa.
Eustaquio is set to don the No. 46 jersey for Swansea and is poised to potentially make his debut in the upcoming match against Derby County this weekend.