Taty Castellanos Departs NYCFC For Italian Champions Lazio

New York City FC has transferred striker Valentín “Taty” Castellanos to Italian top-flight club Lazio, as announced on Friday.

The 24-year-old Argentine’s departure comes with a record-breaking transfer fee, making it one of the most expensive outgoing moves in MLS history.

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NYCFC will also retain a sell-on fee from the deal.

Lazio, who secured a second-place finish in the 2022-23 Serie A season, will be competing in the upcoming UEFA Champions League and boasts a strong attack led by Italian striker Ciro Immobile.

Sporting director David Lee expressed delight at playing a role in Castellanos’ development during his time with NYCFC.

The club recognized his quality, dedication, and professionalism from the moment he arrived in New York, and it comes as no surprise that he will continue his career at the highest levels in Europe.

Lee highlighted NYCFC and City Football Group’s reputation as an excellent environment for players to improve and grow.

During the 2022-23 season, Castellanos spent time on loan at Girona in LaLiga, impressively scoring four goals in a match against Real Madrid.

Alongside Atlético Madrid striker Álvaro Morata, he finished tied for eighth in the Spanish top-flight Golden Boot race with 13 goals.

During his tenure at NYCFC, Castellanos secured both the MLS Cup and the Golden Boot presented by Audi award in 2021.

He departs the club as the second-highest scorer in their history, with 59 goals across all competitions, trailing only Spain’s all-time leading scorer David Villa.

Castellanos expressed his gratitude to NYCFC and City Football Group for their support and making the move to Lazio possible, likening his experience with them to being part of a family.

He also thanked the fans for their unwavering belief and support throughout his journey.

Castellanos initially joined NYCFC in 2018 on loan from Uruguayan side Torque, another member of City Football Group’s global portfolio.

Girona is also part of CFG, and Castellanos played a crucial role in their 10th-place finish in last year’s LaLiga season after gaining promotion.

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Now, Castellanos joins Lazio, a club consistently vying for European competitions and establishing themselves as a top-half team in Serie A.

This transfer marks yet another significant move of a striker from MLS to a top European league, following in the footsteps of Jhon Durán (Chicago Fire FC to Aston Villa in England) and Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas to FC Augsburg in Germany).