Photo Copyright Orlando Ramirez for USA TODAY Sports
Catarina Macario has an impressive list of honors, especially for a 23-year-old soccer player. She won two NCAA Women’s College Cups during her time at Stanford, before turning professional with Lyon. While in France, she won the Division 1 title and the Champions League. Now, having signed a three-year deal with Chelsea, she will be aiming to add Women’s Super League success to her resume.
With her contract at Lyon coming to an end, Macario joins Chelsea on a free transfer in what constitutes a statement signing for the reigning English champions. Their manager, Emma Hayes, described Macario as “one of the most intelligent, creative attacking players in the world.” On their quest for success in Europe, this could be a game-changer for Chelsea.
It is not necessarily a sign of major change in the wider landscape of European women’s soccer, however. Yes, Lyon were knocked out by Chelsea at the quarter-final stage of last season’s Champions League, but the French giants were struggling with a long injury list. And while the WSL has become an increasingly attractive proposition for top players in recent years, it is not an exclusive home to them.
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