Canadian vice-captain Stephen Eustáquio is closing in on a move to Major League Soccer, with sources telling TSN LAFC have emerged as front-runners to sign the 29-year-old midfielder on loan. Eustáquio is expected to travel to Los Angeles at the end of the week.
If completed, the move would provide Eustáquio the chance to join fellow Canadian internationals Jacob Shaffelburg and Mathieu Choinière in Los Angeles after both joined the club over the past year.
But more importantly, a North American move for Eustáquio appears to be his best chance at getting crucial playing time 130 days before Canada starts its home World Cup campaign on June 12 in Toronto.
Although Eustáquio, born in Leamington, Ont., has made more than 150 appearances for Porto, and won seven trophies over four seasons, he’s made just 16 appearances across all competitions for Porto this year, with just four starts combined in cup competitions.
Increased playing time is so valuable for Eustáquio because he plays such a vital role as Canada’s central midfield workhorse. Of Eustáquio’s 54 appearances for Canada, 50 have been starts, and in 30 of those starts he has played the full 90 minutes.
Canada’s central midfield has evolved into, perhaps, the country’s deepest position of talent. Eustáquio, Choinière, Ismaël Koné, Nathan Saliba, and Niko Sigur have all had standout performances in that position under Jesse Marsch, and Marsch has employed different combinations of players in that part of the field since becoming Canada’s head coach in May 2024.
But Marsch’s preferred leader in that position, the one midfielder he leans on consistently, is Eustáquio, who has made 18 starts during Marsch’s tenure.
Nevertheless, Eustáquio has tried to balance his club and country obligations. He didn’t take part in last summer’s Gold Cup so he could commit fully to Porto’s pre-season and FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
But with his diminished playing time in Portugal this season running up against the expectation that Marsch would prefer to start Eustáquio come June, the player needs a move to maintain match fitness.
