Overview:

San Diego Wave FC announced on Friday that the club has acquired U.S. women’s national team forward Catarina Macario via transfer from Chelsea FC (Women’s Super League, England).

SAN DIEGO – San Diego Wave FC announced on Friday that the club has acquired U.S. women’s national team forward Catarina Macario via transfer from Chelsea FC (Women’s Super League, England).

Macario has signed a contract through the 2030 season under the National Women’s Soccer League’s new High Impact Player Rule, marking one of the largest contracts in women’s soccer history.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Cat home to San Diego,” Wave sporting director and general manager Camille Ashton said in a statement. “Cat is a world-class player who has consistently performed at the highest levels of the game. She is an intelligent, technical and creative attacker with exceptional vision and composure in the final third. Her ability to unlock defenses and influence matches in multiple ways will further strengthen an already strong foundation as we continue building toward Championship success. This signing reflects the ambition of our Club and having a player of her caliber return to her hometown and represent San Diego makes this signing even more meaningful for our organization.”

Macario, 26, joins San Diego with extensive experience competing at the highest levels. Since making her professional debut in 2021, she has made 105 appearances across all competitions, scoring 44 goals while winning nine major trophies. She also has earned 29 caps for the USWNT, scoring 16 goals, including recording a team-high eight goals in 10 matches in 2025.

She originally rose to prominence in college soccer at Stanford University, where Macario won two NCAA Division I championships (2017, 2019) and claimed the MAC Hermann Trophy twice (2018, 2019) as the nation’s top player. Macario turned professional with OL Lyonnes in January 2021, becoming a key part of one of Europe’s most dominant teams. In her time with Lyon (2021-2023), she contributed to a UEFA Women’s Champions League title (2021-22), two Premiere Ligue championships (2021–22, 2022–23), the Coupe de France (2022–23), and the Trophee des Championnes (2022–23).

“I’m really excited to join San Diego Wave FC and begin this next chapter of my career at home in San Diego,” Macario said in a statement. “This city has played such an important role in my journey, and the opportunity to come back and represent it means a lot to me. From my first conversations with the Club, I felt the ambition and the vision for what we can accomplish together, including bringing trophies to this city. I’m grateful for the belief they’ve shown in me, and I can’t wait to get started and give everything for this team and my community.”

The 5-4 Macario joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023, helping the club secure back-to-back Women’s Super League titles (2023-24, 2024-25), along with an FA Women’s Cup (2024-25), and Women’s League Cup (2024-25) during her time in London.

On the international stage, Macario has scored 16 times in 29 appearances for the USWNT since her 2021 debut. She was also a member of the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where the United States earned a bronze medal.

“Bringing Catarina back home to San Diego is a special moment for our Club and this city,” Wave FC controlling owner Lauren Leichtman said in a statement. “This signing reflects our commitment to continuing to invest in this team, in this community, and in the future of women’s soccer. We are building a Club that San Diego can be proud of, and Catarina represents the level of excellence and leadership we want associated with San Diego Wave FC.”

Macario will wear No. 20. She is fluent in English, Portuguese and French. A San Diego native, she moved to the city at age 12 from Brazil and began her youth soccer career with San Diego Surf.