Us Star Catarina Macario Departs Chelsea For Record $8m, Five-year Deal With San Diego Wave

US world guardant Catarina Macario has joined nan San Diego Wave connected a woody worthy $8m that runs done nan 2030 season. The statement is reportedly nan largest by full worth successful women’s shot history.

The Wave announced nan move Friday. Sportico first reported that nan Wave were nearing nan acquisition past week. ESPN reported that Macario would subordinate nan NWSL broadside instantly alternatively than successful nan summer, connected a transportation interest of astir $300,000.

Macario’s statement pinch Chelsea was group to expire astatine nan extremity of nan WSL season. San Diego will usage the NWSL’s caller precocious effect subordinate rule to salary Macario.

The 26-year-old projects to instantly go nan focal constituent of nan Wave attack. San Diego person won 2 and mislaid 1 to commencement this NWSL season. They vanished sixth successful 2025, their first play nether erstwhile Arsenal leader Jonas Eidevall. Primarily based successful a 4-2-3-1, nan Wave were nan 3rd highest-scoring broadside successful nan regular season, pinch their 41 goals only trailing nan Kansas City Current and Washington Spirit. Last year’s halfway forward, chiefly Canada world Adriana Leon, often dropped heavy successful possession to play level pinch her attacking midfielder and wingers.

Eidevall’s broadside generated plum scoring opportunities by passing into nan bosom of nan box, often capping extended buildup sequences. San Diego led each NWSL teams pinch a 59.5% complaint of possession, much than 6% higher than immoderate different side, and are 2nd this play pinch 61%.

San Diego’s changeable representation during nan 2025 NWSL season. Illustration: Catalina Bush/The Guardian

The frontline was retooled a spot complete nan winter. San Diego acquired winger Ludmila from nan Chicago Stars via intraleague transfer, giving Eidevall 1 of nan league’s astir move attackers to play alongside 20-year-old Brazilian guardant Dudinha. Another compatriot, Gabi Portilho, was brought successful from Gotham FC, adding a bully pressing forward. Delphine Cascarino’s exit stung, but replacing her final-third guile pinch Ludmila and Macario leaves nan squad pinch plentifulness of firepower.

San Diego’s strategy should greatly use from Macario’s complete attack to playing striker. Her erstwhile years spent successful midfield make her a accordant contributor successful buildup and difficult to dispossess, while her expertise successful nan last 3rd whitethorn amended manifest successful San Diego than she was capable to nether Sonia Bompastor astatine Chelsea.

The move besides represents a homecoming for Macario. Born successful São Luís, Brazil, she began her improvement successful nan academies of Flamengo, Cruzeiro and Santos earlier her family relocated to San Diego erstwhile she was 12. She spent 5 years pinch nan section San Diego Surf, mounting her younker league’s all-time scoring record, earlier playing collegiately for Stanford. There, she helped lead nan Cardinal to NCAA titles successful 2017 and 2019, linking up pinch early world teammates Naomi Girma and Sophia Wilson.

Macario collapsed retired professionally pinch OL Lyonnes, impressing en way to nan 2021-22 UEFA W Champions League title and earning a move to Chelsea successful 2023 while Emma Hayes was manager. Injuries kept her from cementing a starting domiciled astatine Kingsmeadow, and Hayes’s departure for nan USWNT near Macario extracurricular Bompastor’s plans while she recovered.

As San Diego’s focal point, Macario should beryllium amended capable to reassert her lawsuit to beryllium portion of Hayes’s halfway pinch nan US. Every subordinate wants to compete astatine each World Cup held during their career, but making adjacent summer’s squad would beryllium particularly saccharine pinch nan tourney being held successful Brazil, her federation of birth. Macario has scored 16 goals crossed her 29 world caps, including 8 goals from 10 nationalist squad appearances successful 2025. She earned bronze pinch nan US astatine nan Tokyo Olympics successful 2021, but missed nan 2023 World Cup and nan 2024 Paris Olympics owed to injury.