Italian International Joins the Wave on Loan through June 2027 

SAN DIEGO (Sept. 11, 2026) – San Diego Wave FC announced today that the club has acquired forward Barbara Bonansea on loan from Juventus F.C. Women through June 2027, pending receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). 

“We are adding a player with tremendous experience who has consistently won championships throughout her career,” said Camille Ashton, San Diego Wave FC General Manager and Sporting Director. “Barbara brings technical quality, intelligence, and a winning mentality to our group. We are excited to welcome her to the club as we continue to push toward the playoffs and finish the year strong.” 

Bonansea joins San Diego following a decorated nine-year career with Juventus, where she became the club’s all-time appearance leader with 249 appearances and recorded nearly 100 goals across all competitions. The forward joined Juventus ahead of its inaugural season and scored the club’s first-ever Serie A goal and its first two UEFA Women’s Champions League goals while helping Juventus capture 16 trophies, including six Serie A Femminile titles. 

Bonansea began her professional career at 13 years old with ACF Torino, making more than 100 appearances and scoring nearly 40 goals across six seasons. She later joined ACF Brescia, where she helped the club capture two Serie A Femminile titles, two Coppa Italia trophies, and three Supercoppa Italiana titles. Bonansea was named Serie A Female Footballer of the Year in 2016. 

Throughout her career, Bonansea has earned international recognition, including selections to the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11 in 2020 and 2021, an honor determined by votes from thousands of professional women’s players from around the world. She was also inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2021. 

Bonansea has been a mainstay for the Italian national team since making her senior debut in 2012, earning more than 100 caps. She has represented Italy at five major international tournaments, including two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2019 and 2023) and three UEFA Women’s European Championships (2017, 2022, and 2025). Most recently, Bonansea helped Italy reach the semifinals of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 and has continued to feature during the country’s qualification campaign for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

Transaction: San Diego Wave FC acquires forward Barbara Bonansea on loan from Juventus F.C. Women through June 2027.  

Name: Barbara Bonansea
Position: Forward
Kit Number: 21
Height: 5’ 8”
Date of Birth: June 13, 1991
Age: 35
Hometown: Pinerolo, Italy
Citizenship: Italian   

ABOUT SAN DIEGO WAVE FC
San Diego Wave Fútbol Club was founded in 2021 and competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The Wave quickly established itself as one of the world’s premier clubs, making history by breaking the NWSL’s single-game attendance record and reaching the playoffs in its inaugural season. The club has continued to set new milestones, ranking #2 globally in women’s soccer attendance in 2024. Dedicated to excellence on the field and meaningful impact off it, the Wave fosters strong connections within the San Diego community under the leadership of the Leichtman Levine Family. Wave FC plays its home matches at the state-of-the-art Snapdragon Stadium. For more information, visit sandiegowavefc.com. 

MEDIA CONTACT
Sam Legg
Director of Communications
San Diego Wave FC
[email protected]