Swansea City close in on Canada World Cup captain Eustáquio

Swansea City are nearing an agreement to sign Porto midfielder Stephen Eustáquio permanently for an initial fee of about €4m (£3.4m). The 29-year-old Canada international is expected to move to the Championship club after four years in Portugal.

Eustáquio captained Canada at this year’s World Cup and scored against South Africa. He has also played at the previous World Cup, giving Swansea a midfielder with international experience at the highest level.

The proposed deal is understood to include performance-related additions, while Porto would retain a share of any future transfer fee. Swansea would therefore pay the main amount upfront, with the Portuguese champions potentially receiving more if agreed targets are met or Eustáquio is sold on.

Eustáquio joined Porto from Paços de Ferreira in 2022 and became an established member of their midfield. Although he was part of the squad that won the Portuguese title, he spent the end of last season on loan with Los Angeles FC, signalling that his time at Porto was nearing its conclusion.

The move would reunite Eustáquio with Swansea head coach Vítor Matos, who is also Portuguese. His familiarity with the language and football environment could help the midfielder settle quickly, while his background includes Champions League football, World Cup appearances and domestic title success.

For Swansea, the agreement would bring an experienced player to the club for a relatively modest initial outlay. Eustáquio’s move is not being structured as a loan, and the Championship side are positioning him as a permanent addition capable of contributing immediately.