Chelsea’s Macario nearing transfer to San Diego Wave
San Diego Wave FC are currently leading the race to acquire Chelsea forward Catarina Macario, according to multiple sources who spoke with ESPN.
While a contract has not yet been finalized, sources indicated that San Diego is in advanced discussions to secure the U.S. international, who will soon be a free agent as her contract with Chelsea expires.
Several sources confirmed to ESPN that Macario has received multiple offers from European clubs, including Barcelona; however, she prefers to return to the United States to be nearer to her family.
Macario is reportedly enthusiastic about the chance to play in the NWSL for the first time, with personal factors also significantly influencing her decision.
ESPN previously noted that various NWSL teams have shown interest in Macario.
A transfer to NWSL team San Diego Wave would bring the 26-year-old back to Southern California, where she was raised after moving from Brazil at the age of 12 in 2011.
The Wave currently train near the fields utilized by Macario’s youth club, the San Diego Surf. Macario played collegiate soccer in California at Stanford, which is close to the location of NWSL team Bay FC.
Macario’s contract with Chelsea concludes this summer, which is when she is expected to switch clubs. According to FIFA regulations, she is permitted to sign a pre-contract within six months of her current agreement ending.
Macario has netted 16 goals in 29 appearances for the USWNT, with eight of those goals coming in 10 matches last year.
She became a U.S. citizen in late 2020 and subsequently became eligible for the USWNT. At that time, she expressed that it was a “dream come true” to have the chance to represent the United States.
She is anticipated to play a key role in the USWNT squad competing for a fifth World Cup title in Brazil next year.
Macario turned professional with the now eight-time European champions OL Lyon after a collegiate career at Stanford that included two national championships and two MAC Hermann Trophies, awarded to the top player in college soccer.
She won the 2020-21 Champions League with Lyon.
Macario joined Chelsea in 2023. She spent much of her initial months in London recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which kept her sidelined for a total of 20 months.
Macario faced recurring injuries during her tenure at Chelsea, although she was more consistently fit and available for both club and country in 2025. She has secured two WSL titles with Chelsea.
Sources informed ESPN that Macario declined a contract extension offer from Chelsea, as reported by The Guardian earlier this week.
Macario was unexpectedly omitted from The Blues’ Champions League roster in January due to what Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor described as injury concerns.
“Cat is not available right now due to injury,” Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor stated during a press conference on Thursday. “As you could see, she is not in the Champions League squad. We are evaluating her weekly, ensuring she will be able to play for us before the season concludes. Hopefully that will be the case. But today, I don’t have the answer to that question.”
Bompastor mentioned that Macario was dealing with a heel issue in January. Macario has participated in nine WSL matches and three Champions League games this season, but has been absent since early December.
Macario has scored 15 goals in 59 appearances for Chelsea since her arrival.
The WSL transfer window closed on February 3; however, the NWSL window remains open for incoming transfers until March 16.
ESPN writer Jeff Carlisle contributed to this report.
