Eustáquio’s future at FC Porto up in the air | OneFootball

The loss of prominence of Stephen Eustáquio throughout this season is evident. Once an indispensable starter for FC Porto, the Canadian international midfielder has seen his presence on the field drastically reduced in the 2025/26 season.

In his fifth season in blue and white, the 28-year-old midfielder is experiencing the period of least use since his arrival at the club. After playing 11 games in his inaugural season at Dragão – still on loan from Paços de Ferreira –, the number 6 completed the following seasons with more than 40 matches each.

The signings of Victor Froholdt, Pablo Rosario, and Gabri Veiga last summer have limited the space he used to occupy. Currently, Stephen Eustáquio has only 14 games this season.

Less than a month ago, he celebrated his 150th appearance in the Porto jersey, in the home victory against Nice. Since then, he was a starter in the League Cup match against Vitória SC and had only a few minutes against Estoril, Malmö, and Alverca.

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Despite the reduced playing time and with the 2026 World Cup approaching (to be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico), the Canadian international has taken on a significant role in the locker room and on the bench, largely because he is one of the longest-serving members of the squad led by Francesco Farioli.

“Eustáquio was like my assistant, talking and supporting... It's hard to describe my gratitude for having these players, also for those who play a little less, for the way they behave and help the team grow and get better every day,” emphasized the Italian coach Farioli, after the match against Braga.

In September, Eustáquio himself acknowledged that he anticipated a reduction in his playing time due to FC Porto's reinforcements. “FC Porto's summer market was very strong, which made me lower my personal expectations and increase the collective ones. It's a bit difficult, it doesn't mean I'm unmotivated – on the contrary, I'm quite motivated,” stated the Canadian midfielder at the time.

Exit considered in the summer and contract until 2027

With the transfer window about to reopen, it should be noted that Stephen Eustáquio was considered for an exit last summer, with Trabzonspor contemplating making an offer. However, FC Porto's financial demands halted this operation, keeping the player in Porto.

This season, Eustáquio has accumulated only 573 minutes in the FC Porto jersey. The midfielder continues to try to secure more playing time under the command of Francesco Farioli, especially since it is a World Cup year. The undisputed starter status he holds in the Canadian national team, one of the host teams of the tournament, reinforces his presence in the national squad but does not rule out the possibility of a departure as early as January to seek more minutes.

The club may also view a potential transfer with interest: Eustáquio has a contract until June 2027 and a renewal process has not yet been initiated. Until January 31, there may be updates regarding the future of the 28-year-old midfielder.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.