Deyna Castellanos Signs with Tigres Femenil After Portland Thorns Exit

A name that once came up in conversations about the Golden Ball for youth players is now making headlines in Nuevo Leon. Deyna Castellanos is a new player for Tigres Femenil, giving Liga MX Femenil one of the most talked about Venezuelan players of recent years right as Apertura 2026 starts to take shape.

The 27 year old forward arrived as a free agent after her departure from Portland Thorns was confirmed. She terminated her contract with the club after 33 appearances across all competitions since joining in 2025, scoring five goals and adding one assist. It wasn't a bad stint in purely statistical terms, but it also wasn't what many expected from someone with her résumé. Now she's trying her luck in Mexico, something she hadn't done at any point in her career.

And what a career it's been. Castellanos came through Atletico Madrid and Manchester City before landing in the NWSL, all while serving for years as the standout face of the Venezuelan national team. Her name became known almost overnight: in 2017 she was one of three finalists for the Puskas Award for a stunning goal from midfield at the Under 17 Women's World Cup, and that same year she was a finalist for The Best FIFA Women's Player. At just 17 years old, competing at that level already said a lot about the expectations placed on her.

A Signing That Comes at a Good Time for Tigres

Castellanos' arrival is no small move for the Amazonas. The team opened Apertura 2026 with a perfect run: 18 points in Group A, a start rarely seen this early in the tournament. Tigres also still carries the sting of last season's final, which they lost to none other than America, so the goal is clear: fight for the title again, this time with more options up front.

Because there's a gap to fill. The departure of Jenni Hermoso, who returned to Spain to play for Atletico Madrid, left the felines' attack with less international weight than before. Castellanos isn't arriving to be anyone's replacement, but she does bring something similar in terms of global experience and the ability to change a game with a single moment of individual brilliance.

The question now is whether she can rediscover in Mexico the form she showed as a younger player in Europe. Tigres offers her playing time, a winning locker room and a tournament in which the team has already comfortably secured qualification. The challenge is purely on the field: proving that the talent that stunned the world at just 17 years old is still there, this time wearing the Amazonas jersey.