NWSL
American Bay rescues Deyna Castellanos from England’s City
The Venezuelan has left Manchester City and signed for Bay FC of the NWSL, and is hoping to turn her career around before it is too late.
Deyna Castellanos propelled Venezuelan football to its zenith. The forward became a global icon after showcasing her talent both in the youth categories of the Venezuelan national team and at the University of Florida. As a student, she achieved staggering statistics: 47 goals and 20 assists in 77 matches.
At that time, the young forward captured the attention of the entire world. Her talent garnered interest from top-tier clubs, and despite not having played a professional match, she was nominated for The Best FIFA award in 2017, ultimately becoming a finalist, much to the surprise and dismay of some other players.
Castellanos: the rise of a global star
“She is one of the most promising players in the world,” was the word coming out of Atlético Madrid when they secured her signing in 2020. At the age of 20, she came to the league with the ambition to conquer the world. After two seasons with the red and whites, she completed her transfer to the mighty Manchester City. At that moment, her significant breakthrough was anticipated, particularly in a prestigious competition of the Women’s Super League.
The rapid decline of Castellanos
None of that materialized, however. Deyna’s stint at the Etihad has been notably lackluster, prompting her to redirect her path to the United States. This season, she participated in eight matches (three in the cup) and only secured a starting position in a single league encounter. She has managed to score just one goal and provide two assists, accumulating a mere 165 minutes of playing time.
A few days ago, her transfer to the NWSL was confirmed. But, it is not to one of the historical clubs but rather to the Bay Football Club in San Francisco. This club is the new professional women’s soccer franchise in the Bay Area, established in 2023.
“Deyna is an immense talent, having gained top-level experience playing abroad in some of the world’s most significant leagues, as well as for her national team. We believe she will make an immediate impact playing for this club in the NWSL,” stated the club’s press release.
Castellanos controversy in Venezuela
The new Bay FC forward has also not been experiencing the best of times in her home country. The controversy between this player and the coach unfolded in September. Pamela Conti was questioned about a statement released by one of the players, Sonia O’Neil, who asserted that it was untrue that she was injured or unwell.
In response to the player’s remarks, for which she was being questioned, Pamela Conti was about to address the journalist’s inquiry but was interrupted by Castellanos, who told her to “shut up.” Looking at her and placing her hand near the coach, the captain of the Vinotinto commented, “I’ll answer first.” There were numerous criticisms of Deyna in Venezuela.
Castellanos’ illustrious achievements include two South American championships (2013 and 2016), a NCAA national championship in the United States (2018), the Golden Boot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup (2014), and the FIFA award for the best U-15 player (2015).
Furthermore, Castellanos was a finalist for both the FIFA The Best award and the Puskas Award for the best goal. The future is yet to be written but at 24 years old, she shares the same generation as Aitana, and her career is currently hanging in the balance.