US star Catarina Macario departs Chelsea for record $8m, five-year deal with San Diego Wave
Catarina Macario spent the past three seasons at Chelsea. Photograph: John Walton/PA US international forward Catarina Macario has joined the San Diego Wave on a deal worth $8m that runs through the 2030 season. The contract is reportedly the largest by total value in women’s soccer history.
The Wave announced the move Friday. Sportico first reported that the Wave were nearing the acquisition last week. ESPN reported that Macario would join the NWSL side immediately rather than in the summer, on a transfer fee of about $300,000.
Macario’s contract with Chelsea was set to expire at the end of the WSL season. San Diego will use the NWSL’s new high impact player rule to pay Macario. Related: Call it the Rodman Rule or HIP, the NWSL’s new initiative is already impacting rosters The 26-year-old projects to immediately become the focal point of the Wave attack.
San Diego have won two and lost one to start this NWSL season. They finished sixth in 2025, their first season under former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall. Primarily based in a 4-2-3-1, the Wave were the third highest-scoring side in the regular season, with their 41 goals only trailing the Kansas City Current and Washington Spirit.
Last year’s center forward, primarily Canada international Adriana Leon, often dropped deep in possession to play level with her attacking midfielder and wingers. Eidevall’s side generated plum scoring opportunities by passing into the heart of the box, often capping extensive buildup sequences. San Diego led all NWSL teams with a 59.