San Diego Wave Secures Ludmila in Record Transfer Deal

The San Diego Wave has officially signed Brazilian international forward Ludmila from NWSL rivals Chicago Stars FC, in a transfer valued at an initial $800,000, as announced on Tuesday.

This transfer marks the second-highest intraleague fee in NWSL history, following Gotham FC’s acquisition of Jaedyn Shaw from the North Carolina Courage for $1.25 million last September. Under certain undisclosed conditions, Ludmila’s transfer could ultimately reach a total of $1 million.

Camille Ashton, the Wave’s sporting director and general manager, expressed enthusiasm about bringing Ludmila to San Diego. “We’re very excited to come to an agreement to bring Ludmila to San Diego. She’s a player who not only brings a great deal of talent but also complements the strengths of our existing roster. Her versatility allows her to operate in multiple attacking roles, providing our coaches with enhanced tactical options in various game situations. Her creativity and movement will improve our ability to break down defenses, and we are confident she will be a valuable asset to the Club’s success moving forward,” Ashton stated in a news release.

In her only full season with the Stars, Ludmila finished as the team’s top scorer, netting 10 goals in 24 appearances, a performance that placed her fourth in the league’s Golden Boot standings. However, Chicago struggled throughout the 2025 season, finishing at the bottom of the NWSL standings.

Chicago Stars head coach Martin Sjögren wished Ludmila well in her future endeavors, stating, “We wish Ludmila the best in this next chapter of her career. I am confident that the talented forwards we have recently acquired, such as Ivonne Chacón and Ryan Gareis, along with our emerging talents like Jameese Joseph and Micayla Johnson, will create a formidable front line. They will be supported by experienced midfielders, including recently acquired Brianna Pinto, who we believe will be a significant asset to our team. We also look forward to the return of Mallory Swanson later in the year, which will help us build momentum throughout the season.”

Last season, San Diego finished sixth and was eliminated by the Portland Thorns in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. With Ludmila’s arrival, she may fill the role of France forward Delphine Cascarino, who is reportedly close to joining the London City Lionesses in England’s Women’s Super League, according to a report from L’Equipe.

At 31, Ludmila has earned 63 caps with the Brazilian national team, scoring six goals, and was part of the squad that secured a silver medal at the 2025 Paris Olympics, finishing behind the United States.

“From the moment Cami and the organization showed interest in me, my focus was clear. I wanted to play for this team and this city,” Ludmila remarked. “I didn’t come here just to play; I came to give my best and fight to win trophies. I’m extremely excited to showcase my football in front of all the supporters and score many goals in these colors.”