(Porto) FC Porto have activated the option to buy Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustáquio and signed him for the next five seasons.
Posted at 8:24 p.m.
The national division and Portuguese Cup champion club made the announcement on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Ontarian arrived on loan with an option to buy at the end of January from Portuguese club FC Paços de Ferreira. An important cog in the Canadian selection, Eustáquio stepped on the field 11 times with the Dragons.
“It is a great pleasure for me (to come back), noted Eustáquio through a press release. I spent six good months here, they were incredible – with the national title and the Portuguese Cup. If I hadn’t been up to it, I wouldn’t be here now, so I think I performed well. I am very happy to be here and very motivated to help FC Porto. »
Eustáquio, known for his skill in distributing the ball, is in full preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and for the UEFA Champions League.
However, he will have better opportunities to make his place as FC Porto starter given the departures of midfield counterparts Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain) and Fábio Vieira (Arsenal). He was limited to just two starts with FC Porto last season.
The one who wet the Canadian jersey 22 times will also live his first pre-season with the club and he believes he can benefit from it.
“Coming halfway through the season is never easy, because the time is limited to understand the game philosophies of the head coach and my teammates, he admitted. Now, with the preseason, there will be many exhibition games and lots of playing time to acclimate me. It will be imperative for me to take my place, whatever it is, and help FC Porto. »