San Diego Wave FC announced Tuesday morning the signing of 15-year-old San Diego native Melanie Barcenas to a three-year contract, becoming the youngest player in the National Women’s Soccer League’s history.
A forward, Barcenas spent her youth career with San Diego Surf Soccer Club and has been called up to the United States Youth National Teams at U-14, U-15, U-16, and most recently the U-17 team where she made two appearances against the England national team in February.
“I’m very excited to sign my first professional contract with my hometown team, San Diego Wave,” Barcenas said. “It’s been a dream of mine to not just play in the NWSL but to have the opportunity to represent this city since the announcement of the Wave last year. I know I am young, but the team and coaching staff have been amazing, and I look forward to learning from them every day as I continue to develop.”
Barcenas has been training with the club as a trainee player for the past year and has impressed many, including Wave head coach Casey Stoney.
“We are very happy that Melanie and her family have decided to entrust her hometown club as the place for her to begin her professional career,” Head Coach Casey Stoney said. “The coaches at San Diego Surf have been instrumental in helping her develop as a person and as a player for her entire youth career. We’re excited to maximize her potential through the coming years, while being patient and deliberate in advancing her development while ensuring she retains some routine and normalcy of being a teenager.”
The NWSL’s Washington Spirit had signed Chloe Ricketts at 15 years, 283 days on Mar. 3, but Barcenas sets a new record just over two weeks later at 15 years, 138 days.
Under the NWSL’s new under-18 entry mechanism, announced in Jan. 2023, Barcenas cannot be waived or traded without both her and a parent/guardian’s permission until she has turned 18. Teams are limited to two under-18 players on their roster.
In 2022, Barcenas signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike, becoming the first high school player to do so.
San Diego opens their season this Saturday, March 25, with a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal matchup with the Chicago Red Stars at Snapdragon Stadium. Wave has already set the NWSL home opener attendance record and eyes a sellout to open their second season.