NYCFC announced Tuesday that it has reached a new loan agreement with German side St. Pauli, which will keep injured midfielder James Sands in the Bundesliga until the end of the 2025-26 season.
The 24-year-old was initially loaned to St. Pauli in January on a deal that would run through June 30 of this year. However, he made just seven appearances with the club before suffering a complex right ankle injury involving a fractured fibula and a torn medial collateral ligament during a February match against Freiburg.
The move was Sands’ second notable loan to a European club. He spent parts of 2022-2023 with Scottish powerhouses Rangers, making 24 appearances.
The Rye, NY native has been on the cusp of the US National Team throughout his six seasons with NYCFC. Breaking in with the side during the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, he has made 13 appearances over the last four years.
Sands was NYCFC’s first homegrown player to make 100 MLS appearances in 2024, and was also named the club’s defensive MVP last season.
St. Pauli narrowly avoided relegation on Saturday despite a 2-0 loss, finishing just three points above the drop in 14th place in the Bundesliga.
