San Diego Wave sign Barbara Bonansea on loan from Juventus

San Diego Wave FC have acquired 35-year-old Juventus forward Barbara Bonansea on a season-long loan until June 2027.

"Barbara brings technical quality, intelligence and a winning mentality to our group," Wave general manager and sporting director Camille Ashton said. "We are excited to welcome her to the club as we continue to push toward the playoffs and finish the year strong."

Bonansea's contract was due to expire next summer. She had been in discussions with Juventus regarding a contract extension that would have kept her at the Italian club until June 2028.

A highly experienced player, Bonansea has been a mainstay for Juventus, amassing 249 appearances and winning 16 trophies, including six Serie A league titles across nine seasons. Juventus secured qualification for the league phase of the Champions League and will begin its 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 semifinal.

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

Pending receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC), Bonansea will bolster San Diego's front line with seven regular-season games left to play. Last weekend, San Diego named four players — center back Trinity Armstrong, forwards Dudinha and Catarina Macario , and defensive midfielder Kiki Pickett — on its injury list.

Dudinha, who was among the team's most reliable goalscorers, injured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) over the summer and will be out for the rest of the season. San Diego signed Macario in March from Chelsea , but the USWNT star has yet to debut for her hometown club as she continues to work through a heel injury.

San Diego has been one of the more consistent teams in the NWSL this year, floating at the top of the table. It sits fifth in the NWSL, level on points (39) with the fourth-ranked Utah Royals, who have an edge with goal differential (10 to six). The Wave are 5 points clear of the Seattle Reign, who occupy the last playoff spot in eighth.

Bonansea will join Wave players like 23-year-old Trinity Byars, who has had a standout season and is in contention for this year's golden boot race. Byars is tied with the Washington Spirit's Trinity Rodman at 10 goals, but they are eight goals behind the league leader, Ashley Sanchez of the North Carolina Courage.