Catarina Macario rejects new Chelsea contract as exit speculation grows

Catarina Macario has rejected a new contract offer from Chelsea, leaving her future at the club in doubt. The USWNT forward joined the Blues in 2023 from Lyon on a free transfer and her original deal was due to run through this summer. Links to the NWSL and other European clubs have surfaced, and her omission from Chelsea's Champions League knockout squad has added to speculation about a possible departure.

At Chelsea, Macario has won four trophies, including two Women’s Super League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup, contributing to a treble in 2024-25. She finished that season as the club's third-leading scorer with 11 goals, behind Guro Reiten (12) and Aggie Beever-Jones (13).

The 2025-26 campaign saw Macario make 32 appearances after a previous season limited to 16 while recovering from an ACL injury sustained at Lyon. This season she has played 12 times for Chelsea, without a league goal but with two assists in nine league matches, and has scored twice in three Champions League appearances.