San Diego Wave FC has signed Italy forward Barbara Bonansea on loan from Juventus through June 2027, the teams announced on Friday.
Bonansea, 35, is one of Italy’s most decorated women’s soccer players.
She has over 100 caps for the national team and has played in two World Cups for her country.
“We are adding a player with tremendous experience who has consistently won championships throughout her career,” San Diego Wave general manager and sporting director Camille Ashton said in a statement.
“Barbara brings technical quality, intelligence, and a winning mentality to our group. We are excited to welcome her to the club as we continue to push toward the playoffs and finish the year strong.”
The loan marks Bonansea’s first time playing professionally outside of Italy. She has spent nearly a decade with Juventus, helping the team win six Serie A titles to frequently qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Prior to joining Juventus in 2017, Bonansea won a pair of Serie A titles with Brescia.
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She played for Torino in her early years, debuting as a 13-year-old.
Bonansea remains active with Italy’s national team, including during qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.
Italy remains in contention for the World Cup through UEFA’s playoff qualification.
Bonansea joins a Wave team that sits fifth in the NWSL and in a three-way tie (39 pts.) behind league leaders Gotham FC (45 pts.) and the Washington Spirit (43 pts.).
San Diego has scored 32 goals in 23 games this season, the lowest total among the top seven teams outside of league leaders Gotham (27 goals).
Recently, San Diego has leaned on young American forward Trinity Byars in attack.
Byars has 10 goals this season after a recent surge in form.
The Wave lost Brazilian forward Dudinha to a season-ending knee injury in June.
U.S. forward Catarina Macario, who was acquired via a $300,000 transfer from Chelsea in March for an NWSL record cumulative contract of around $8 million, is yet to play for the club.
She has been listed as out with a heel injury on the weekly NWSL availability reports.
The club has repeatedly declined to comment further on her status or potential return.
