The Portland Thorns have officially announced the signing of Venezuelan international Deyna Castellanos, who has agreed to a contract extending through 2026, with a club option for an additional year in 2027.

Castellanos previously played for the expansion team Bay FC last season. After assessing her situation, she and the club mutually agreed to part ways, allowing the talented 25-year-old midfielder to become a free agent.

“I’m incredibly excited to join Portland, a top option for me, and to finally make this deal official,” she shared in a pre-announcement statement, expressing her enthusiasm for new beginnings at the Thorns. She emphasized her eagerness to contribute and succeed with the team.

The midfielder was acquired by Bay FC from Manchester City, where she made her mark over two seasons after transferring from Atletico Madrid in Spain. During her time with Bay FC, Castellanos participated in 25 matches, starting in 12, tallying two goals and one assist.

On the international scene, Castellanos has represented Venezuela 38 times, netting 22 goals alongside 15 assists, solidifying her status as a key player on her national team.

“We are eager to welcome Deyna to the Thorns,” said Thorns coach Rob Gale in a statement. “She possesses qualities that we believe can be nurtured within our program. We look forward to this next phase of her career and her alignment with our team goals.”

Castellanos is also an advocate for women’s soccer through her initiative, the Queen Deyna Program, which aims to support young players from her homeland and other Latin American countries in pursuing college education opportunities. To date, the program has successfully assisted 44 players.

She also has an impressive collegiate background, having competed for the Florida State team that secured a national title in 2018. Throughout her college career with the Seminoles, she scored an incredible 47 goals in 77 appearances.