An incredibly exciting young talent, the 23-year-old will officially join the Club on July 1 following the conclusion of her current contract with Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid.
Born in Maracay in Venezuela, the striker spent the formative years of her career with Escuela de Futbol Juan Arango in her homeland before moving to the United States in 2016 for university, with her spending three years playing for Florida State Seminoles.
Her goalscoring record in the Sunshine State – 48 efforts in 82 appearances - caught the attention of many, including FIFA who shortlisted her in the final three nominees for the FIFA Best Women’s Player of the Year award in 2017 alongside Carli Lloyd and Lieke Martens.
In 2020 however, she earned her first professional contract in the game with Atletico Madrid and over two-and-a-half seasons with the Spanish side, she played UEFA Women’s Champions League football and found the back of the net 23 times in 58 outings.
She also played a key part in the team’s Supercopa de Espana Femenina success of 2020-21 and helped the team to a fourth-place finish in 2021-22.
On the international scene, Castellanos started representing her country at the age of 14 and won the Golden Boot as the team finished fourth in the 2014 Under-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and secured a number of other accolades during her time in their youth ranks.
Called up by their Under-20 team in January 2018, she impressed in the South American U20 Women’s Football Championships and was fast tracked to their senior set up just three months later, scoring on her debut against Ecuador in the Copa America Femenina.
Netting four times in an 8-0 win over Bolivia just days later, Castellanos was named as captain of the national team in 2021 and has held that mantle ever since.
Speaking about her move, she said: “I’m very happy to be a Manchester City player – it is a huge move for myself in my career and I can’t wait for it to begin.
“Looking around at all the facilities here, it is just amazing – I believe that this Club will help to improve me as a player, and I hope that I can help Manchester City too.
“The style of football that the team play was very attractive to me and I feel as though I can fit in very well here, whilst also being challenged to develop and grow.
“I have chosen the No.10 shirt too as I played with that number in college and scored some great goals wearing it, so hopefully I will be able to create many more good memories with it here at City.”
Head Coach Gareth Taylor added: “We’re thrilled to have Deyna on board – she is a player we have admired for a long time and we’re so pleased that we have been able to finally bring her to the Club.
“She is an incredibly exciting player and her inclusion in the FIFA Best shortlist at just 18 speaks volumes about her impact on the game at such a young age and what a talent she is.
“She has a real hunger and desire to be highly successful on the pitch and we’re very much looking forward to working with her over the coming years.”
