REPORT: USWNT’s Catarina Macario close to move to San Diego Wave FC

ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf and Emily Keogh reported that sources told them that San Diego Wave are “the current front-runners” to sign Chelsea’s Catarina Macario.

Macario is out of contract at the end of the WSL season this Summer, and reportedly turned down a contract extension with Chelsea, setting the groundwork for her move to a new club.

Reports came out yesterday that Macario received an official offer from Barcelona, but ESPN also reported that Macario would prefer a move back to the United States to play in the NWSL.

The 26-year-old forward/midfielder has never played in the NWSL as she began her professional career in France with OL Lyonnes, then known as Olympique Lyonnais Feménin, after forgoing her senior season at Stanford.

After two seasons in France, Macario signed with Chelsea who were then coached by USWNT Head Coach, Emma Hayes.

Macario was born in Brazil, but moved to San Diego at 12 years old with her family. There she played with the renowned San Diego youth club, San Diego Surf, which has developed many men’s and women’s professional soccer players over the years.

San Diego Wave also happen to lease a section of the Del Mar Polo Fields, a large training ground owned by San Diego Surf, for their training facilities. Youth clubs including San Diego Surf can often be seen practicing or playing matches on weekends just a few yards away from the fenced-off Wave section of the facility.

The Wave play their first preseason match open to the public this weekend at the Coachella Valley Invitational against the Houston Dash, on Sunday, February 15.