US worldwide ahead Catarina Macario has joined the San Diego Wave on a deal value $8m that runs via the 2030 season. The contract is reportedly the most important by complete worth in girls’s soccer historical past.
The Wave introduced the transfer Friday. Sportico first reported that the Wave had been nearing the acquisition final week. ESPN reported that Macario would be a part of the NWSL facet instantly slightly than in the summertime, on a switch charge of about $300,000.
Macario’s contract with Chelsea was set to run out on the finish of the WSL season. San Diego will use the NWSL’s new high impact player rule to pay Macario.
The 26-year-old tasks to instantly develop into the focus of the Wave assault. San Diego have gained two and misplaced one to begin this NWSL season. They completed sixth in 2025, their first season beneath former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall. Primarily primarily based in a 4-2-3-1, the Wave had been the third highest-scoring facet within the common season, with their 41 objectives solely trailing the Kansas City Current and Washington Spirit. Last yr’s middle ahead, primarily Canada worldwide Adriana Leon, typically dropped deep in possession to play degree with her attacking midfielder and wingers.
Eidevall’s facet generated plum scoring alternatives by passing into the guts of the field, typically capping in depth buildup sequences. San Diego led all NWSL teams with a 59.5% price of possession, greater than 6% larger than every other facet, and are second this season with 61%.
The frontline was retooled a bit over the winter. San Diego acquired winger Ludmila from the Chicago Stars through intraleague switch, giving Eidevall one of many league’s most dynamic attackers to play alongside 20-year-old Brazilian ahead Dudinha. Another compatriot, Gabi Portilho, was introduced in from Gotham FC, including a superb urgent ahead. Delphine Cascarino’s exit stung, however changing her final-third guile with Ludmila and Macario leaves the crew with loads of firepower.
San Diego’s system ought to significantly profit from Macario’s full method to taking part in striker. Her earlier years spent in midfield make her a constant contributor in buildup and troublesome to dispossess, whereas her skill within the ultimate third might higher manifest in San Diego than she was capable of beneath Sonia Bompastor at Chelsea.
The transfer additionally represents a homecoming for Macario. Born in São Luís, Brazil, she started her improvement within the academies of Flamengo, Cruzeiro and Santos earlier than her household relocated to San Diego when she was 12. She spent 5 years with the native San Diego Surf, setting her youth league’s all-time scoring record, earlier than taking part in collegiately for Stanford. There, she helped lead the Cardinal to NCAA titles in 2017 and 2019, linking up with future worldwide teammates Naomi Girma and Sophia Wilson.
Macario broke out professionally with OL Lyonnes, impressing en path to the 2021-22 UEFA W Champions League title and incomes a transfer to Chelsea in 2023 whereas Emma Hayes was supervisor. Injuries saved her from cementing a beginning function at Kingsmeadow, and Hayes’s departure for the USWNT left Macario outdoors Bompastor’s plans whereas she recovered.
As San Diego’s focus, Macario ought to be higher capable of reassert her case to be a part of Hayes’s core with the US. Every participant needs to compete at each World Cup held throughout their profession, however making subsequent summer time’s squad could be particularly candy with the event being held in Brazil, her nation of delivery. Macario has scored 16 objectives throughout her 29 worldwide caps, together with eight objectives from 10 nationwide crew appearances in 2025. She earned bronze with the US on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, however missed the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics because of damage.
