U.S. women\u2019s national team forward Catarina Macario is set to join the San Diego Wave from Chelsea.<\/p>\n
The Athletic reported in January<\/a> that Macario was considering her options with her Chelsea contract expiring in the summer, and had been the subject of interest from NWSL sides.<\/p>\n Sources briefed on the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, indicated the Wave are expected to secure her signature before the NWSL transfer deadline on Monday.<\/p>\n The move would see Macario, 26, play in the NWSL for the first time, having begun her professional career at Lyon after playing college soccer at Stanford.<\/p>\n The U.S. international joined Chelsea from Lyon in 2023 and has made 49 appearances for the London club, scoring 12 goals.<\/p>\n Macario had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2022 and did not appear for Chelsea until March 2024, when she scored on her debut against Leicester.<\/p>\n This season, Macario has made 12 appearances across all competitions, eight of which have been as a substitute, and scored two goals \u2014 both of which were in Chelsea\u2019s 6-0 win over St Polten in the Champions League. She has not appeared for Chelsea since December 14 and has been dealing with a foot injury.<\/p>\n At the beginning of February she was omitted from Sonia Bompastor\u2019s squad for the Champions League knockout stages.<\/p>\n Macario would become the latest Chelsea player to depart the club for the NWSL, after winger Guro Reiten\u2019s move to Gotham FC<\/a> was confirmed on Thursday.<\/p>\n What does Macario\u2019s move mean for San Diego?<\/p>\n Analysis from Tamerra Griffin<\/p>\n In signing Macario, San Diego have won the NWSL transfer window \u2014 and it\u2019s not even close.<\/p>\n This would be true even if the significance of this move rested solely on Macario\u2019s foray into the NWSL marking a return to her U.S. hometown. But the timing and club rebuild that San Diego have been toiling away at<\/a> for two seasons now is what elevates it to landmark status.<\/p>\n Macario needs minutes, something that was not always a guarantee at Chelsea whether due to injury or steep competition for starting roles, and she will get plenty of those in San Diego. She will likely slot in just above Kenza Dali in the midfield, helping the French international orchestrate and initiate the team\u2019s attack in their possession-oriented style.<\/p>\n The Wave may have lost their opening match last weekend, but there\u2019s little doubt in the team\u2019s potential or the high-ceiling talent among its younger midfield stars like Kimmi Ascanio, Laurina Fazer and Gia Corley. And if there\u2019s anything to glean from Macario\u2019s recent performances with the USWNT, she offers a crucial generational bridge between younger and older players.<\/p>\n And then there\u2019s the Brazilian factor.<\/p>\n