The United States men’s national team midfielder James Sands is taking his talents to Germany. NYCFC announced that Sands will be loaned out to Bundesliga side St. Pauli for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
According to the MLS side’s official announcement, the loan deal for Sands can be extended for one more season if certain conditions in the agreement are met.
“We are really pleased for James that he has earned this opportunity to play for a fantastic club in the Bundesliga,” NYCF’s sporting director David Lee said in a statement.
Sands, who will turn 25 in July, made his way through NYCFC’s academy and earned a senior team debut in 2017. Since then, he has made 117 appearances in MLS, scoring one goal and contributing two assists. He helped the club win the MLS Cup in 2021 while earning his lone All-Star nod in the same year.
Sands already played in Europe, joining Scottish side Glasgow Rangers on an 18-month loan with an option to buy in January 2022. He went on to make 41 appearances with Rangers before his loan deal was terminated early.
“After two years in New York, I feel like it’s the right time to make a move back to Europe, and very much looking forward to testing myself and experiencing a new league,” Sands shared.
Sands made his USMNT debut in 2021 and has 13 international appearances to his name. He was part of the USMNT team that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2021.
