Maitane López Bio
Maitane López Millán, born on 13 March 1995, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chicago Stars FC of the American National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Spain national team. Standing at 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in), she has built a steady club career across Spain and the United States since turning senior in 2012, playing for Collerense, Levante, Real Sociedad, Atlético Madrid, Gotham FC, and Chicago Stars. She is also a full Spain international with prior experience in the country’s under-17 and under-19 youth setups.
Early Life and Background
Maitane López Millán was born on 13 March 1995 in Águilas, a coastal town in the Region of Murcia in southeastern Spain. At the age of five, her family relocated to Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, where she would spend much of her childhood and begin her footballing journey. Her move to the island at such a young age coincided with her earliest introduction to organized football.
López comes from a family with deep football roots. She is of Basque descent through her father, and two of her uncles, Aitor and Luis López Rekarte, were professional footballers. Encouraged by Aitor’s performances as a defender for Real Sociedad, Maitane signed up for her first football team at the age of five, the same age at which she had moved to Mallorca from Águilas. The combination of family influence and a new footballing environment in the Balearic Islands helped shape her early development as a player.
Path to Professional Soccer
After progressing through the youth ranks in Mallorca, López joined Collerense, a women’s football club based in the Balearic Islands, where she broke into senior football in 2012 at the age of 17. Her time at Collerense gave her regular playing time in Spain’s top flight and established her as a promising young midfielder capable of competing at the national level.
In June 2015, La Liga outfit Levante announced the signing of López from Collerense, marking her move to one of Spain’s established women’s football clubs. Over the following five seasons, she developed into a consistent presence in the Spanish top flight. She was also a regular in Spain’s youth national teams during this period, winning the 2011 UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship with the under-17s and finishing as runner-up at the 2014 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship, where she had consolidated a starting role after joining the squad as an injury replacement.
Maitane López Career
Early Career at Collerense (2012–2015)
López began her senior career with Collerense in 2012, playing in the Spanish women’s top flight. Over three seasons with the Balearic-based club, she gained valuable experience at the senior level, which drew the attention of bigger clubs in Spain. Her development in Mallorca laid the foundation for the next step in her career, and in June 2015, Levante completed her signing.
During her time at Collerense, López also represented Spain at youth international level. She was part of the Spain under-17 squad that won the 2011 UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship, though she did not feature heavily. She continued her youth international progression with appearances for the Spain under-19 side, helping the team reach the final of the 2014 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship.
Levante Era (2015–2020)
Levante announced the signing of López from Collerense in June 2015, and she would go on to spend five seasons at the Valencia-based club. She featured regularly for Levante across multiple Liga F campaigns, becoming a reliable midfield presence. The five-year spell represented her longest continuous run at a single club and helped refine her game in a competitive top-flight environment.
After her Levante contract concluded, López moved on to another Liga F side, Real Sociedad, in the summer of 2020, ending a productive chapter in eastern Spain. Her time at Levante established her as a proven performer in Spanish women’s football and prepared her for subsequent moves to bigger clubs in the league.
Real Sociedad and Atlético Madrid (2020–2023)
In 2020, López signed for Real Sociedad, based in the Basque Country, the region from which her family originates through her father’s side. She spent one season at Real Sociedad before transferring to Atlético Madrid in July 2021, where she signed a two-year professional contract. The move to Atlético Madrid represented a step up in terms of squad profile, competing in the Champions League and challenging for domestic honors.
She played for Atlético Madrid across the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, with her deal set to expire during the 2023 summer transfer window. Her form in Madrid attracted overseas interest, including reported approaches from English Women’s Super League side Manchester United.
Chicago Stars Era (2023–Present)
On 6 July 2023, López signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional year with American NWSL club NJ/NY Gotham FC, choosing the United States over interest from European sides. She spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Gotham FC, playing in the NWSL and gaining experience in American professional soccer.
On 5 December 2024, Chicago Stars FC announced that they had signed López through the 2026 season, bringing the Spanish midfielder to her second NWSL club. The move places her in the Midwest and signals Chicago’s long-term commitment to her services. She wears the number 77 shirt for Chicago Stars.
Driving Style and Strengths
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Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most notable events in López’s career are her early youth international triumphs, including the 2011 UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship title with Spain, and her senior international debut for Spain in a friendly against Morocco. Her move from Atlético Madrid to Gotham FC in 2023 represented a major milestone as her first transfer to a club outside Europe, and her subsequent signing with Chicago Stars FC in December 2024, through the 2026 season, marked her continued growth in the NWSL.
Maitane López International Career
At youth level, López was part of the Spain under-17 team that won the 2011 UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship, though she did not play a major role in the tournament. She then featured for the Spain under-19 side, finishing as runner-up at the 2014 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship after consolidating a starting position as an injury replacement call-up. Following that tournament in summer 2014, she played for the Balearic Islands beach football team.
At senior level, López received her first Spain national team call-up in October 2019 to face the Czech Republic, following injuries to Virginia Torrecilla and Amanda Sampedro, though she did not feature in the match. Two years later, in 2021, she made her senior debut for Spain in a friendly match against Morocco, officially beginning her senior international career.
Maitane López Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
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Personal Life
López is of Basque descent through her father, a family connection that later influenced her decision to sign for Real Sociedad. Two of her uncles, Aitor and Luis López Rekarte, were professional footballers, and Aitor’s performances as a defender for Real Sociedad inspired her to sign up for her first football team at the age of five. Outside of football, she enjoys music and plays guitar, posting cover songs on social media. She currently plays her club football in the United States while continuing to represent Spain internationally.
2025 Season Performance
López entered the 2025 NWSL season with Chicago Stars FC, having been announced as a signing on 5 December 2024 on a deal running through the 2026 season. Her move from Gotham FC to Chicago Stars represented a new chapter in the NWSL, joining a club looking to build long-term stability around experienced international signings. Wearing the number 77 shirt, she is expected to play a central role in the team’s midfield as the season progresses.
As a Spanish international with Champions League experience at Atlético Madrid and prior NWSL exposure at Gotham FC, López brings both pedigree and familiarity with the American game. Chicago Stars FC will look to her experience to help shape a competitive midfield unit throughout the 2025 campaign. Her dual commitments with the Spain national team may also see her called up for international fixtures during the season.
Looking ahead, López’s contract with Chicago Stars FC runs through the 2026 season, meaning her 2025 campaign is part of a longer-term plan with the club. She will aim to maintain consistent performances, contribute goals and assists from midfield, and help Chicago Stars FC push up the NWSL standings while continuing to be available for selection by the Spanish national team setup.