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Jeff Kassouf
Multiple Authors
Forward Catarina Macario of the San Diego Wave FC has completed a transfer from Chelsea ahead of the NWSL’s transfer window closing. Reports indicate her contract is the most valuable in women’s soccer history, totaling around $8 million.
Macario’s deal with the Wave extends through the 2030 NWSL season, and sources have confirmed that the transfer fee is approximately $300,000. The transfer is timely as the NWSL deadline is at midnight Monday.
In January, ESPN had noted that San Diego was in a strong position to sign Macario. Sportico was the first to report the finalized transfer and contract details.
To accommodate Macario’s contract, the Wave will leverage the NWSL’s new high-impact player rule, which allows teams to pay top players from a fund exceeding the salary cap, provided they meet certain criteria. This rule was ratified by the NWSL’s board in December and has faced scrutiny from the NWSL Players Association.
In 2026, the NWSL’s salary cap is set at $3.7 million, adjusted for revenue sharing.
Discussions had previously taken place regarding Macario joining the Wave in the summer when her contract with Chelsea was set to expire. Due to her recent injuries, she hasn’t played much for Chelsea, making an immediate transfer sensible.
San Diego started its NWSL season with a 1-0 loss at home to the Houston Dash on Saturday.
Meanwhile, U.S. national team forward Trinity Rodman secured a new contract with the Washington Spirit in January, reported to be over $2 million annually, making her the highest-paid player globally on an annual basis. Rodman’s contract, valid for three years, will run until 2028.
Macario has a personal connection to San Diego, having spent part of her childhood there after her family relocated from Brazil.
Reportedly, Macario’s decision to return home to play in the NWSL was influenced by her desire to play in the league for the first time. Although she received offers from various European clubs, including Barcelona, she chose San Diego for personal reasons.
Interestingly, the Wave train near the fields where Macario played youth soccer, highlighting her connection to the area. She and her family moved to San Diego in 2011 when she was just 12 years old.
After becoming a U.S. citizen in late 2020, Macario quickly became eligible for the national team and expressed that representing the United States was a “dream come true.”
With 16 goals in 29 appearances for the national team, she is expected to play a vital role in the U.S. squad aiming for a fifth World Cup title in Brazil next year, having scored eight of those goals in just ten games last year.