Catarina Macario joins San Diego Wave FC in record deal – Equalizer Soccer

Nov 28, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; USA forward Catarina Macario (20) dribbles the ball against Italy during the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

On Monday, it was revealed that soccer superstar Catarina Macario will depart Chelsea FC Women and join the San Diego Wave. The deal is reported to be about $8 million for five years, making it one of the largest contracts in the history of women’s professional soccer.

Because Macario’s contract with Chelsea runs through the summer, her new club is expected to pay a roughly $300,000 transfer fee to bring her over before it expires. This contract is also expected to be executed using the new NWSL “High Impact Player” rule, which lets teams exceed the salary cap on occasion for major signings.

This move comes at a good time for the NWSL, as the league has dealt with some hemorrhaging of players who want to play overseas; Macario’s choice is a reversal. At a time when big stars like Sam Coffey and Alyssa Thompson are playing for Women’s Super League clubs, Macario’s decision to come back to the United States is a moment of pride for the league. Additionally, this move is significant for San Diego in particular, as they have been looking to organize their franchise around a new superstar following the departure of Naomi Girma and the retirement of Alex Morgan.

Macario, originally from Brazil, spent her teenage years in San Diego. She played for the Stanford Cardinal and was a part of 2019 NCAA Championship winning team. She also earned the MAC Hermann Trophy twice, which is awarded to the best player in college soccer.

Macario departed Stanford early to go pro, and from 2021-2023 played for French side Olympique Lyonnais Féminin. With Lyon, she won the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2022. In 2023, she joined Chelsea, where she’s been ever since, but she has dealt with serious injuries over the past few years that have limited her impact for the team.

Macario has also made big impressions on the international stage. In 29 appearances for the U.S. women’s national team, she has scored 16 goals. Her ACL tear in 2022 kept her off the roster for the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics, but she returned to the national team’s regular rotation in 2025 and has been in strong form ever since.

A dynamic versatile player who can comfortably play up front, as a false 9, or an attacking midfielder, Macario is expected to make an immediate impact for the Wave. She’s expected to join the team immediately.