January 26, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Bay FC News Release
San Francisco – Bay FC, the Bay Area’s new women’s professional soccer franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), have acquired the rights to Venezuelan international Deyna Castellanos through a transfer with Manchester City Women in exchange for a transfer fee, the club announced today. Following the transfer, the midfielder was signed to a contract through the 2026 season with an option for the 2027 campaign. She will join the team and be added to the roster pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“Deyna is a tremendous talent, who has already gained top-level experience playing abroad in some of the top leagues in the world as well as for her national team, and we believe she will make an immediate impact playing for this club in the NWSL,” said Bay FC General Manager Lucy Rushton. “Deyna is a player you can’t take your eyes off – she is enigmatic, dynamic and will excite our supporters with her attacking flair and play.
As an attacking midfielder, she can find her way out of tight spaces and deliver pinpoint passes, break lines with dribbling and passing and has the ability to create and score goals in many different ways, including from set pieces. We are thrilled to have secured her and be bringing her back to America and Bay FC.”
Castellanos began her professional career in 2020 with Atlético Madrid, helping the team win the Supercopa de Espana Femenina during the 2020-21 season and earn a fourth-place finish in the league during the 2021-22 campaign. Following the conclusion of her contract in Spain, Castellanos signed with Manchester City ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Across three seasons with Atlético, Castellanos appeared in 71 matches across all competitions, tallying 26 goals as the team finished among the top four in each of those seasons. During the 2019-20 campaign, the club finished second in the Primera Division and qualified for the Champions League. In the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League tournament, the midfielder tallied one goal and two assists as she helped Atlético advance to the Round of 16.
In June 2022, the Venezuelan international joined Manchester City and made her debut for the club on Aug. 18 in a Champions League match, scoring a penalty kick in a 6-0 win. During her first season, Castellanos made 28 appearances across all competitions, tallying four goals across the 2022-23 campaign….