San Diego Wave in talks with Juventus over Barbara Bonansea loan

San Diego Wave and Juventus are in negotiations regarding a season-long loan for Barbara Bonansea until June 2027.

The 35-year-old's contract is due to expire next summer but discussions are under way regarding a contract extension that would keep the forward at the Italian club until June 2028. Nothing has been agreed yet.

A highly experienced player, Bonansea has been a mainstay for Juventus, amassing over 200 appearances, winning 15 trophies, including six Serie A league titles across nine seasons. Juventus have just qualified for the league phase of the Champions League and start their domestic campaign later this month.

On the international stage, Bonansea represented Italy at the 2019 World Cup and the 2025 European Championships, opening the scoring against England in the semi-final.

The loan move, managed by the same agency A&V sports, is similar to fellow Italy international Cristiana Girelli who joined Bay FC in February and has had her loan extended until next summer.

Bonansea would bolster San Diego's squad with eight games of the regular season left to play. As of Sunday, San Diego Wave named four players – Trinity Armstrong, Dudinha, Cat Macario and Kiki Pickett – on their injury list.

The club has remained one of the more consistent teams in the NWSL this year, floating at the top of the table. They sit 4th in the NWSL, level on points with Utah Royals in third, and eight points clear of Seattle Reign who occupy the last play-off spot in eighth.

Bonansea would join players like 23-year-old Trinity Byars who has had a standout season and is in contention for this year's golden boot race, tied with Washington Spirit's Trinity Rodman on 10 goals and just five shy of league-leading Ashley Sanchez.

Juventus, San Diego Wave, NWSL, Women's Soccer