On Monday, it was announced that Catarina Macario will leave Chelsea FC Women to join the San Diego Wave. The reported deal is around $8 million for five years, making it one of the biggest contracts in women’s professional soccer history.
Since Macario’s contract with Chelsea lasts until summer, San Diego will pay approximately $300,000 as a transfer fee to bring her in before then. This signing will utilize the NWSL “High Impact Player” rule, allowing teams to exceed the salary cap for important signings.
This news comes as the NWSL has been facing challenges with players moving overseas. Macario’s return is a positive sign, especially as other stars like Sam Coffey and Alyssa Thompson are currently with Women’s Super League teams. For San Diego, it’s a crucial addition as they seek to build their team after losing Naomi Girma and Alex Morgan, who has retired.
Macario, originally from Brazil, grew up in San Diego. She played for Stanford University and was part of the team that won the 2019 NCAA Championship. She has also won the MAC Hermann Trophy twice, which recognizes the top college soccer player.
After leaving Stanford early to go professional, Macario played for Olympique Lyonnais Féminin from 2021 to 2023, where she won the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2022. She joined Chelsea in 2023 but has struggled with injuries that limited her contributions to the team.
On the international level, Macario has made a significant impact, scoring 16 goals in 29 appearances for the U.S. women’s national team. An ACL injury in 2022 kept her out of the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics, but she made a strong comeback to the national team in 2025.
Known for her versatility, Macario can play as a forward, a false 9, or an attacking midfielder. She is expected to make an immediate impact for the Wave, joining the team right away.
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