Julia Grosso Bio
Julia Angela Grosso (born August 29, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club Chicago Stars FC and the Canada women’s national team. She attained international prominence after scoring the title-winning penalty kick at the 2020 Summer Olympics, leading Canada to its first Olympic gold medal in women’s soccer. Standing 1.70 m tall and wearing the number 7 shirt, Grosso has become one of the most recognizable midfielders in the North American game.
Born and raised in British Columbia, Grosso developed through the Vancouver-area youth system before starring at the University of Texas. She later spent three seasons with Juventus in Italy’s top flight, winning multiple domestic trophies, before returning to North America with Chicago Stars FC. Across club and country, she has built a résumé defined by clutch moments, technical quality, and consistent selection at the international level.
Early Life and Background
Julia Angela Grosso was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on August 29, 2000. She is of Portuguese descent through her father and Italian heritage through her mother, a background that later influenced her decision to play club soccer in Italy. She grew up in the Greater Vancouver area and attended Burnaby Central Secondary, where she balanced academics with a demanding youth soccer schedule.
At Burnaby Central, Grosso played for the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Rex program, the same setup that developed future Canadian international Jordyn Huitema. The two became close friends during this period, training together and pushing each other in competitive matches. Her sister Carli also came through the Vancouver Whitecaps system, reinforcing a household deeply connected to the sport.
Grosso’s youth pathway included stints with Burnaby Girls SC and Mountain United, where she played until 2014, before joining the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite program in 2014. She represented Canada at youth level from the under-15 age group upward, signaling her early status as one of the country’s top prospects.
Path to Soccer
Grosso’s progression through Canadian youth soccer was steady and well documented. She debuted for the Canada under-15 team in 2014 at the CONCACAF Girls Under-15 Championship, helping the squad lift the inaugural title. She moved up to the under-17 team in 2016, was named to the tournament Best XI at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, and represented Canada at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan.
In 2018, Grosso enrolled at the University of Texas, where she played for the Texas Longhorns. She made her college debut on August 17, 2018, in a 3–0 win over the Rice Owls, beginning a three-year NCAA career that ran alongside her senior international opportunities. Her time in Austin sharpened her tactical reading of the game and prepared her for the physical demands of professional soccer.
That same year, Grosso signed with TSS FC Rovers of the Women’s Premier Soccer League for the 2018 season, giving her senior-level minutes outside the college calendar. The combination of NCAA competition, WPSL experience, and continued national-team call-ups positioned her as a ready-made professional by the time she finished her degree.
Julia Grosso Career
Early Career (2018)
Grosso’s first senior club experience came with TSS FC Rovers in 2018, the same year she began her college career at Texas. The Women’s Premier Soccer League side offered a competitive environment that allowed her to test her midfield skills against senior opposition while still developing as a young player.
Her form at TSS FC Rovers, paired with her rising role in the Canadian youth system, set the stage for her European move. The 2018 season effectively served as a bridge between her youth international years and the professional ranks that followed.
Juventus Era (2022–2024)
In December 2021, Grosso returned to her ancestral country of Italy and joined Juventus on an initial one-year contract, beginning a memorable European chapter. She debuted for the club on January 16, 2022, in a 5–0 win against Pomigliano, and quickly established herself in the squad. In her first season, Juventus completed the domestic treble, winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana.
Her second season brought twenty appearances and three goals, along with a second Coppa Italia title and the Serie A Midfielder of the Season award. After missing part of 2023–24 due to injury, she returned in time to feature in a second Supercoppa Italiana victory before announcing her departure from the club at season’s end.
Chicago Stars Era (2024–Present)
On July 8, 2024, the Chicago Red Stars, later rebranded as Chicago Stars FC, announced the signing of Grosso to a three-year contract running through the 2026 NWSL season. The move marked her return to North American club soccer after three seasons in Italy’s Serie A Femminile.
The Chicago Stars era represents a new phase in her career, pairing her European experience with a young, ambitious NWSL roster. Wearing her familiar number 7, she has been positioned as a central creative hub in midfield, with the club building around her vision and set-piece quality as it competes in one of the world’s top domestic leagues.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although she plays soccer rather than motor sport, Grosso’s on-field profile draws on similar ideas of craft and decision-making. She is a left-footed midfielder whose game is built on creativity, technique, and intensity, with the tactical flexibility to also operate at left-back. Her passing range, set-piece delivery, and ability to read the rhythm of matches make her a reliable connector between defense and attack.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Grosso’s career came on August 6, 2021, when she converted the winning penalty kick in the gold medal match of the 2020 Summer Olympics against Sweden, securing Canada’s first Olympic gold in women’s soccer. The strike was her first international goal at any level, instantly transforming her standing at home. She has since added a CONCACAF W Championship Golden Boot in 2022 and selection to multiple FIFA tournament squads.
Julia Grosso Career Wins
Across club and country, Grosso has assembled a trophy case that includes an Olympic gold medal, three domestic titles with Juventus, and youth continental honors with Canada. She has also earned individual recognition, including Serie A Midfielder of the Season and a CONCACAF W Championship Golden Boot. The following sections outline her most significant winning moments.
Juventus Highlights
During her time at Juventus, Grosso won two Serie A titles (2021–22 and 2022–23), two Coppa Italia titles, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles, completing a domestic treble in her debut season in Italy. Her second campaign brought her twenty appearances, three goals, the Serie A Midfielder of the Season award, and a second Coppa Italia medal. After returning from injury in 2023–24, she added a second Supercoppa Italiana before departing the club.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Grosso won Olympic gold with Canada at Tokyo 2020 and was part of the Canadian squad that finished runner-up at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, where she claimed the Golden Boot as top scorer. At youth level, she helped Canada win the inaugural CONCACAF Girls Under-15 Championship in 2014 and earned Best XI honors at the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship.
Julia Grosso Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Grosso is of Portuguese descent on her father’s side and Italian heritage on her mother’s side, a dual background that connected her early to Italian club football. Her sister Carli was also part of the Vancouver Whitecaps system, making soccer a shared family pursuit during their youth. Their Portuguese-Italian roots and their Vancouver upbringing helped shape a household that encouraged competitive sport from a young age.
Personal Life
Grosso has been in a relationship with Major League Baseball player Jeremy Peña since December 2024, and the couple became engaged in December 2025. The two met through the broader North American professional sports community and have been seen together at major events. Beyond her relationship, Grosso is widely known for her connection to family and to the Vancouver community that first introduced her to the game.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Grosso’s first full year with Chicago Stars FC after joining the club midway through 2024 on a contract that runs through 2026. Settled into the NWSL environment, she has taken on a central role in midfield, providing creativity, set-piece delivery, and a steadying presence in possession for a developing squad. Her experience from three seasons at Juventus has translated into a vocal leadership role within the locker room.
For Canada, 2025 follows her participation in the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics, keeping her firmly in the national-team picture heading into the next competitive cycle. She remains a regular selection for Canada’s midfield, valued for her ability to break lines with passing and to contribute in both buildup and pressing phases.
Looking ahead, Grosso’s 2025 outlook combines club ambition in the NWSL with continued international duty for Canada. With her contract running through 2026, the coming campaigns offer a chance to add to her trophy collection and to further cement her status as one of the most decorated midfielders of her generation.
