Deyna Castellanos has come to the NWSL, joining expansion side Bay FC from Manchester City.
She signed a contract through 2026 with a 2027 option. According to ESPN, the deal is worth an estimated $1.8 million guaranteed over four years. That would make Castellanos the highest-paid foreign player in the NWSL.
“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 in a release. “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.”
Castellanos played collegiately for Florida State, winning a NCAA championship before going overseas. She began her professional career with Atlético Madrid, helping the team to the Supercopa de Espana Femenina during the 2020-21 season.
After concluding her contract in Spain, Castellanos signed with Manchester City ahead of the 2022-23 season. She made 28 appearances for City, tallying four goals in that campaign.
She’s made eight appearances so far this season, scoring a goal in the Leagues Cup. And now, she’ll help to build a team from the ground up.
“I think the project is something that is really amazing,” Castellanos told ESPN about the appeal of playing for an expansion team in its first season. “To be part of the first group of girls that is gonna try to accomplish all the goals that we have is something very special.”