The 23-year-old has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the Academy Stadium, joining us from Atletico Madrid.
Here are 10 things you may or may not know about our new Blue…
1. Queen Deyna
Although she is only 23, Deyna is considered to be a truly inspirational role model around the world.
In addition to her youth FIFA awards, plus her TheBest and Puskas nominations, she has also dedicated her life to helping young girls to pursue their dream.
She is a FIFA and CONMEBOL Ambassador and has her own brand: ‘Queen Deyna’, paying homage to her nickname.
“’Queen Deyna’ is my nickname and my brand,” she explained.
“In Venezuela, ‘Reina’ means ‘Queen’ and because it rhymes with my name, people would say: ‘Deyna la Reina.’ It’s a big part of the brand: ‘Every girl is a Queen in her own way.’”
2. Forward thinking
Hailing from Maracay, Venezuela, where opportunities to play football were limited and female footballers criticised, she opened a Foundation that targets education and gender inequality issues across the globe and is working with several organisations to launch educational programs in South and North America.
“Besides accomplishing my goals in football, through football I’m trying to change the world a little bit, fighting for equality for us to have a better pathway for younger girls coming through,” she added. “That’s the goal.
“Besides leading by example, I have a Foundation that helps young women to go to college and have a scholarship, playing football there.
“I’m trying to change some people’s lives the way college changed my life. That’s something very special and I hope I can accomplish so many more things.”
3. Good news
If she were not a professional footballer, Deyna believes she would have pursued a career in journalism.
She is currently studying the subject, while she also has ample experience in front of the camera. She was the youngest analyst to cover a FIFA World Cup competition for NBC/Telemundo.
“I study Journalism,” she said. “Education was something very important for me and my family.
“I wanted to have the balance: if I wanted to be a good footballer, I had to be a good student.
“If I were not a footballer, I think I would be a journalist.”
4. Glory Deys
The forward moved to the United States of America in 2016 to attend University and played for the Florida State Seminoles, where former City defender Megan Campbell also plied her trade.
She spent three years in the Sunshine State, impressing with an outstanding goalscoring record of 48 goals in 82 appearances and earning a place in the final shortlist for the FIFA Best Women’s Player of the Year award in 2017, alongside Carli Lloyd and Lieke Martens.
Deyna says the stint in the States helped to progress her English, as well as her footballing ability.
“Here in England, it reminds me a little bit of my experience there in America,” she reflected.
“It was a very special one. I had a lot of people who helped me to grow and develop my game.
“A few people have had an influence in my career: my coach from college, Mark Krikorian, and my mother – she has always been there – and my teammates.
“That’s something I really appreciated. It made me a better person and here, I hope the experience will be as good as it was there.”
5. Having a ball
Deyna’s passion for football began at her brother’s training practice! Though she did not have many female role models, she idolised Brazilian legend Marta.
“My love for football started when I was five years old,” she recollected. “My brother started playing and I was going with him to practice. I was running around, kicking a ball around…
“A coach talked to my parents and told them I could play football. I said: ‘Of course!’ I didn’t know whether I’d like it or not but I think I made a good decision!
“My first hero was Marta. When I started playing football, I didn’t know much about women’s football. She was the best player at that moment and I started following her.”
6. Madchester
The 23-year-old says one of the things she is looking forward to experiencing most in Manchester is the music scene.
“I listen to everything,” she stated. “Right now, I love the Beatles – my partner likes them. I know Manchester has good music for sure… and good weather!”
7. National treasure
Despite her youth, the striker captains the Venezuelan national team, having progressed through the ranks since the age of 14.
After enjoying plenty of success at youth level, including the 2014 Under-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Boot, she was fast-tracked into the senior set-up and netted on her debut against Ecuador in the Copa America Femenina.
A matter of days later, she bagged four in an 8-0 win over Bolivia and in total, has scored 12 goals in 25 appearances for the first team.
Asked what it takes to be a captain and a winner, she replied: “Having discipline and being a good teammate – that part for me is very important: being a good person.
“At the end of the day, not everything has to be about football on the pitch – also the personal life: having everything right, having good relationships with your teammates… That’s part of the key.”
8. Not half!
Castellanos has a reputation for scoring spectacular goals and earned a nomination for the 2017 Puskas award, after scoring a goal from the halfway line for Venezuela against Cameroon.
Les Lionnes had just scored a stoppage time equaliser when the forward snatched a dramatic three points in the most remarkable fashion with a dipping long-range effort from the kick-off to clinch victory in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
It was a strike worthy of claiming the Goal of the Tournament prize and the one she dubs her all-time favourite… so far!
“I would say the one I scored from the halfway line!” she smiled.
9. Work of art
Deyna is as creative off the pitch as she is on it. She enjoys painting and drawing in her spare time, as well as dancing, and has more than 30 tattoos!
“Outside of football, I like to stay at home and watch TV, or go dancing whenever I can,” she reveals. “I know how to draw and I also I paint a little bit.
“I have 30-something tattoos! They started with meaning but now it’s just art. I would say the last one I got is my favourite but I like all of them.”
10. Top 10
City’s new recruit will wear the number 10 shirt for her new Club – a figure which holds meaning for her with fond memories of her early playing career.
“I played with this number in college for a long time,” she recalled. “I scored some good goals with that number and it has good memories for me.
“I hope I can have more memories here too!”
