Manchester City have announced the signing of Venezuela international striker Deyna Castellanos from Atlético Madrid.
Castellanos, 23, will officially arrive on July 1 on a three year deal subject to international clearance at the conclusion of her first professional contract with her current club Atlético Madrid after a three year spell scoring 48 goals in 82 appearances for Florida State Seminoles.
She has Champions League experience over two years with Atlético Madrid – scoring 23 times in 58 appearances for the Spanish club since joining in 2020 – and helping them lift the Supercopa de Espana Femenina in 2020-21 followed by a fourth place finish the following season.
After joining the club, Castellanos will wear the number 10 shirt which was vacated following the departure of Georgia Stanway to Bayern Munich.
Born in Macaray, Venezuela, Castellanos has represented her country since the age of 14 and won the Golden Boot as the team finished fourth in the 2014 Under-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup, securing 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 captain of the national team in 2021 and has held that mantle ever since, scoring 12 times in 25 appearances.
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.”