Catarina Macario will leave Chelsea to join the San Diego Wave in a $300,000 transfer, returning to the city where she played youth soccer.
Chelsea and the San Diego Wave have reached an agreement this month for the transfer of Catarina Macario. The National Women's Soccer League franchise paid approximately $300,000 to acquire the forward from the Blues ahead of her London contract expiring this summer. This move concludes her tenure in Europe, which included a stint with French side Lyon. During her time competing in France and England, Macario accumulated 105 professional club appearances and netted 44 goals, bringing significant elite European experience to the American domestic circuit she initially skipped.
Moving to San Diego represents a full-circle moment for the attacker. After moving from Brazil to the United States at 12 years old, she developed her skills with the San Diego Surf youth organization. She later starred at Stanford University for the Cardinal, registering 63 goals in 69 matches and claiming two MAC Hermann trophies.
The Wave anticipate her acquisition will elevate the organization on and off the pitch following Alex Morgan's retirement. Owner Lauren Leichtman, a billionaire who recently invested $800,000 to sign Brazilian forward Ludmila, continues to demonstrate ambition in rebuilding the squad's high-profile roster.
The primary focal point for both her new club and the USWNT is Macario's health. Her career has been interrupted by severe injuries, including:
Despite these physical setbacks, her commercial value remains exceptionally strong. Last summer, she secured a 10-year sponsorship agreement with Nike valued at $10m. If she can avoid further injury issues, the organization expects her to lead their frontline and utilize this historic financial package to anchor the team through 2030.
