World-Class Goalkeeper to join Wave FC on a three-year deal
SAN DIEGO (June 10, 2026) – San Diego Wave FC announced today the Club has signed Spanish international goalkeeper Sandra Paños from Club América of Liga MX Femenil. Her contract with the Club includes a three-year deal through the 2028 season, pending receipt of her P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Sandra to San Diego,” said Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton. “She is a world-class goalkeeper with experience and leadership at the highest levels of the game, which will be a tremendous addition to our team. Bringing a player of her caliber to the Wave reflects the ambition of our Club as we continue working toward winning a championship, and we’re thrilled to have her join this team.”
Paños joins the Wave coming off a championship with América nearly a month ago, capturing the Liga MX Femenil Clausura title and earning “Portera de la Final” honors as the top goalkeeper of the championship match. During her three seasons with América, Paños appeared in 72 matches and recorded the league’s second-best goals-against mark in 2026 with just 13 goals conceded. She also helped lead the club to Clausura runner-up finishes in 2024 and 2025, as well as an Apertura runner-up finish in 2025.
Prior to her time in Mexico, Paños built a legendary career with FC Barcelona, becoming the most successful goalkeeper in club history as three-time UEFA Champions League Champion and five-time Liga F Champion. Across nine seasons from 2015-24, making 279 appearances and recording 171 clean sheets and winning 23 titles across Champions League, Liga F, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de España, and Copa Catalunya. Paños also earned four Zamora Trophies, awarded to the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-to-games ratio, was named UEFA Women’s Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season, and received a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2021.
“I’m excited to join San Diego and begin this new chapter of my career,” said Paños. “The Wave has a talented group of players, and the Club’s strong foundation and ambition are what attracted me here. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to the team and doing everything I can to help the Wave compete for championships.”
The goalkeeper began her professional career at 17 years old with Levante UD, where she made 114 appearances from 2010-15.
On the international stage, Paños has represented Spain on the largest stages of the game since making her senior national team debut in 2011. She earned 54 appearances for Spain and was named to the country’s squads for the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups, as well as the 2017 UEFA Women’s European Championship, where Spain reached the quarterfinals. Paños also helped Spain advance to the knockout stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019 for the first time in program history, facing the United States in the Round of 16.
Transaction: San Diego Wave FC sign goalkeeper Sandra Paños from Club América to a three-year deal through the 2028 season.
Name: Sandra Paños
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-7
Date of Birth: Nov. 4, 1992
Hometown: Aicante, Spain
Citizenship: Spain
Last Club: Club América
