The MLS team New York City FC (NYCFC) officially announced on Wednesday that they had loaned midfielder James Sands to the German Bundesliga team FC St. Pauli.
He will join on loan until the end of the 2024/25 season for the next half-year, but the German side will have the option to extend the deal through the 2025/26 season, assuming performance-based conditions are met.
It won’t be the first time the American played abroad, with him previously being loaned to Scottish Premiership team Rangers FC from 2021 to 2023, playing 41 matches in all competitions and scoring one goal in the Scottish Cup.
FC St. Pauli manager Alexander Blessin said in an official club statement:
“In James, we’re getting an intelligent player who has a very good understanding of the game and finds constructive solutions under pressure thanks to his sound technique. His defensive anticipation helps him to make lots of interceptions and quickly exert pressure on opponents. He has demonstrated these qualities both in the US and during his spell in Scotland.”
The 24-year-old New York native made 29 regular season appearances for NYCFC this season and featured in all four of their MLS Cup playoff games this season. He ranked in the 88th percentile for tackles per 90 minutes (2.85), 80th percentile in interceptions per 90 (1.59), and 98th percentile in aerial duels won per 90 (1.83). His defensive abilities will be brought to the newly-promoted Bundesliga side, who are currently 14th in the Bundesliga table and are already one of the more defensively solid teams in the league, with only Bayern Munich conceding fewer goals than them this season.
Sands said in an official statement published by FC St. Pauli:
“FC St. Pauli is a club known to soccer fans in New York, too, but I obviously had to familiarize myself with the idea behind the way the team plays football. The officials made a very convincing case about the ambitions the club has and the role I can play. Moving to one of the strongest European leagues is a big challenge for me and one I’m very much looking forward to.”
