CLAIREMONT, CA — Melanie Barcenas was 15 years and 138 days old when she put pen to contract for the San Diego Wave Football Club. The San Diego County native is the first local youth player to be signed in NWSL history and the youngest NWSL player under contract, according to the club.
Her contract is a win for Barcenas, the San Diego Wave FC, and San Diego Surf Soccer Club. Her longtime ECNL Coach Andres Deza spoke on her addition to the Wave team.
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“Mel is one of the most creative players I have had the pleasure to coach. Within the context and structure of our game model, providing Mel with the freedom to express herself has been a priority since day one,” he said. “Mel is a clear example of how an extremely creative and talented player can thrive within the structure and discipline required of the positional game. I am very happy for Mel and wish her the best in her pro career and thank her for trusting Surf with her soccer development.”
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A San Diego Surf Soccer Club spokesperson also spoke on the accomplishment, saying they are “BEYOND proud of Mel’s tenacity in chasing her dreams, relentless hard work, and the fire she brings to every field.”
The 5 foot 4 forward is signed through the 2025 season through the league’s new Under-18 Entry Mechanism, according to a spokesperson for the Wave.
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“I’m very excited to sign my first professional contract with my hometown team, San Diego Wave,” Barcenas said of joining the team. “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.”
Head coach Casey Stoney spoke on the signing and adding Melanie to the team.
“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,” Stoney said in a released statement. “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.”
Barcenas has grown up playing for San Diego Surf.
In addition, Barcenas became the first high school player to sign a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike when she signed on Jan. 1, 2022, a few months before the groundbreaking agreement signed with sisters, Alyssa and Gisele Thompson. Due to that agreement, she can profit off of her name, image and likeness while in high school due to California’s and high school associations allowing student-athletes to participate in NIL deals.
At the international level, Barcenas has been called into the U-14, U-15 and U-16 U.S. Women’s National Teams for training camps. Most recently, Barcenas was called up to the U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team for matches against England and was the youngest player on the roster as the lone player born in 2007.
San Diego Wave FC kicks off the club’s second season this Saturday, March 25 against the Chicago Red Stars.
Kickoff is slated at 7 p.m. PT at Snapdragon Stadium. Tickets for the match are available here.
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