USWNT midfielder Catarina Macario is set to sign with FA Women’s Super League side Chelsea this summer per The Athletic. Her contract with Lyon expires at the end of the season.
The 23-year-old standout missed all the 2022-23 season with an ACL injury to her left knee that she suffered in June 2022 during Lyon's final league game of the season. She’s nearing a return to action and will be hoping to recover in time for a shot to make USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s 2023 Women’s World Cup roster.
Lyon only have two games left this season with the last being on May 27. After that Macario will look to make the move to Chelsea.
Catarina Macario to Chelsea
Catarina Macario is poised to sign for Chelsea upon the expiry of her Lyon contract this summer.
— Charlotte Harpur (@charlotteharpur) May 16, 2023
Catarina Macario ➡️ Chelsea?
The Lyon midfielder looks set to sign with Chelsea when her contract expires in the summer, per @charlotteharpur of @TheAthleticFC . ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/dbyMYtfBCN— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) May 16, 2023
Catarina Macario • Chelsea Bound
— CfcwComps (@CompsCfcw) May 16, 2023
If Macario completes the move, then she will become the second-ever USWNT player to play for Chelsea. Crystal Dunn wore the Blue of Chelsea from 2017 to 2018 where she made 24 appearances and scored five goals across all competitions.
DEAL DUNN: Chelsea Ladies have signed USA international Crystal Dunn from Washington Spirit. 18-month deal. (Source: @ChelseaLFC) pic.twitter.com/NmSVQQwYx2
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) January 4, 2017
Chelsea’s star forward and attacking midfielder Pernille Harder is expected to leave the club this summer. The arrival of Macario could fill the hole left behind by Harder’s departure.
Macario missed out on the latest season, however the season before she was fantastic. In the 2021-22 season she made 33 appearances, scored 22 goals and became the first American to score in a UEFA Women’s Champions League final.
.@catarinamacario taps in a third for Lyon!
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) May 21, 2022
