Jaedyn Shaw joins NC Courage in blockbuster transfer

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United States international Jaedyn Shaw is now a member of the North Carolina Courage, as The Equalizer first reported on Saturday.

Shaw was traded by San Diego Wave FC to the Courage after requesting the trade in early 2024, as The Equalizer previously reported. In return, San Diego received $300,000 in allocation money, $150,000 in intra-league transfer funds, and an international roster spot for the 2025 and 2026 NWSL seasons.

Pending conditions met — which the clubs did not specify — the Courage could send up to $75,000 more in allocation money to the Wave this year in exchange for up to $150,000 in additional intra-league transfer funds. The conditions, per a source with knowledge of the deal, revolve around the Courage acquiring more allocation money in 2025 and allow the Wave to acquire that at a 2-to-1 rate — $2 in intra-league transfer fund dollars to $1 in allocation money. They are not performance-based incentives around Shaw’s play.

“I am so grateful to be here and to call North Carolina home,” Shaw said in a statement. “I’m excited to experience a new style of play and to learn and grow alongside amazing players and coaches. I can’t wait to get to work and help bring another championship to Courage Country.”

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The total transaction is among the largest in NWSL history for a single player, though the final number is still pending certain conditions. The Wave’s $500,000 total acquisition of winger Maria Sanchez last year remains the NWSL record for an intra-league transfer.

Shaw, 20, is one of the brightest young American attacking talents. She signed for the Wave in the summer of 2022 as a 17-year-old and scored in her first three NWSL games. Shaw helped San Diego make the playoffs as an expansion team that year and win the NWSL Shield in 2023.

By 2024, however, she requested a trade — with North Carolina as a desirable destination.

“Jaedyn’s impact on and off the field has been a significant part of our club’s growth,” sporting director and general manager Camille Ashton said in a statement. “Early last season, Jaedyn expressed her desire to take on a new challenge and explore other options outside the Wave. While it’s always hard to see a player of her talent move on, we respect and understand her decision to seek a new chapter in her career and we’re happy we were able to help facilitate the move she wanted. We wish her nothing but success in the future.”

Shaw trained with the Washington Spirit before signing with San Diego after the Wave won a now-obsolete discovery process. Shaw originally committed to play for the University of North Carolina, located just down the road from the Courage, before turning professional.

“Bringing Jaedyn here is a great day for our club,” Courage coach Sean Nahas said in a statement. “She is someone who has every tool at such a young age and will be a key part of our club. Her quality on the ball, both in possession and on the dribble, along with her levels in and around the box can unlock opposition. She suits our style of play and our supporters will be able to see one of the top young talents every week. We can’t wait to welcome this truly gifted player and even better person to our team. It’s a great day for us and we look forward to having Jaedyn in Courage Country.”

San Diego just hired former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall as head coach after a tumultuous 2024 that saw the team sink to near the bottom of the standings and fire ex-head coach Casey Stoney (who was just hired as the new head coach of Canada). Team president Jill Ellis left for a role at FIFA, and the Wave (and the NWSL) are currently being sued by six former employees who are alleging multiple forms of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Shaw’s trade request predates those events and Ashton’s arrival at the club in June.