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German Bundesliga side St Pauli have signed defender James Sands on loan from New York City FC until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Sands, 24, has made 13 senior appearances for the USMNT and has previous experience in European football, having spent the 2022-23 season on loan in Scotland, with Rangers.
Confirming the transfer, St Pauli sporting director Andreas Bornemann described Sands as “a very exciting mix of athleticism and footballing skills”.
He added: “The fact that he can be used both in central defensive midfield and in central defence is another positive aspect. Since he has already played at a high level in Europe, we trust him to quickly acclimatise with us and in the Bundesliga.”
Head coach Alexnader Blessin said: “With James we get a clever player who has a very good understanding of the game and, thanks to his clean technique, finds constructive solutions under pressure.
“His ability to anticipate also helps him in defense, so that he can often intercept balls or put the opponent under pressure early on. He has demonstrated these qualities both in the USA and during his time in Scotland.”
Sands, who has not represented the U.S. since 2023, said he was looking forward to a new challenge.
“FC St. Pauli is a club that football fans in New York know,” he told the club website.
“Of course, I still had to get to grips with the team’s game plan. Those in charge showed me very convincingly what ambitions the club has and what role I can play in it. For me, the move to one of the strongest European leagues is a big challenge, and one that I’m really looking forward to.”
St Pauli are newly promoted to the Bundesliga this season and headed into the winter break in 14th place, two positions above the relegation zone. They resume their season at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on January 11.
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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