Bay FC is expected to sign Deyna Castellanos in the coming days, according to a report from Manchester World.

A number of reports have indicated that the Venezuelan forward is expected to depart Manchester City this January. While a number of clubs outside of the WSL have shown interest in the forward, NWSL club Bay FC is reportedly close to an agreement with the star.

Castellanos has been with Manchester City since 2022, when she joined the club from Atlético Madrid. She played in 19 games for the club last season and has appeared in five so far this season.

A member of the Venezuelan national team, Castellanos has made 38 international appearances, scoring 22 goals. Castellanos played collegiately at Florida State before joining Atlético.

The signing would be a big splash for Bay FC, who have already added Mexican star Scarlett Camberos and striker Rachel Hill. Other NWSL clubs have been trying, to no avail, to get the Venezuelan star to the league.

Bay FC also have the No. 2 pick in the NWSL draft on Friday.

Deyna Castellanos is calling for greater player autonomy in the National Women’s Soccer League.

The Manchester City and Venezuela national team forward was asked on social media last week about if she would play in the NWSL. In response, Castellanos said she would want the league to give more power to players before she considered it.

“I hope that if and when I decide to play for the NWSL, the rules have significantly changed,” she wrote. “Players deserve full autonomy of their careers. A league that is able to control players’ rights without their consent does not align with football on a global scale.”

The issue of player autonomy in the NWSL has long been contested. In the wake of last year’s scandals, which brought down coaches around the league for alleged abuses, the league signed its first CBA. Teams, though, still hold much more power than players when it comes to contracts.

Players’ lack of power in the NWSL’s entry processes in particular has been highlighted by the discovery process for 17-year-old Jaedyn Shaw.

Shaw, who has trained with the Washington Spirit and was listed on their preseason roster, went through the process last week.

Her rights were acquired by San Diego Wave FC, and as a result, the Spirit are now attempting to trade for the attacker. The likely trade will allow the Wave to gain allocation money payment or a draft pick for gaming Shaw’s entry to the league.

“We’re continuing to talk,” Spirit coach Kris Ward said Saturday. “At this point, it’s still unclear, which is disappointing seeing as though she would have been cleared to play this week or this weekend.”

A similar situation played out last year for then-15-year-old Olivia Moultrie, who had trained with the Portland Thorns since 2019. OL Reign picked up Moultrie’s rights through the discovery process, then dealt them to the Thorns for a third-round pick.

Deyna Castellanos has signed with Manchester City, the club announced Friday.

The 23-year-old striker is joining the club on a three-year deal starting July 1. She previously had been with Atlético Madrid.

The Venezuelan native spent her college years at Florida State, scoring 48 goals in 82 appearances and earning one of the final three spots for FIFA Best Player of the Year in 2017.

Castellanos joined Madrid in 2020 and scored 23 times in 58 appearances for the club. During the 2020-21 season, she helped the team win the Supercopa de España Femenina.

She will wear No. 10 for City, the same number she wore when playing for the Seminoles.

“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,” she said. “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.”

Manchester City coach Gareth Taylor added that the team is “thrilled” to have Castellanos 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,” he said.

Castellanos also has been a member of the Venezuelan national team system since childhood. Last year, she was one of many players who alleged that coach Kenneth Zsermeta had sexually harassed and abused them.