James Sands

Last updated

James Sands
James Sands 2022.jpg
Sands with Rangers in 2022
Personal information
Full name James Hoban Sands [1]
Date of birth (2000-07-06) July 6, 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth Rye, New York, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)
Position(s) Center-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 FC St. Pauli
(on loan from New York City FC)
Number 6
Youth career
2010–2015 New York Soccer Club
2015–2017 New York City FC
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017– New York City FC 120 (1)
2018 → Louisville City (loan) 3 (0)
2022–2023 → Rangers (loan) 24 (0)
2025– → FC St. Pauli (loan) 9 (0)
International career‡
2016–2017 United States U17 42 (1)
2021– United States 13 (0)
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:37, 30 August 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of January 2, 2025

James Hoban Sands (born July 6, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back or defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli, on loan from Major League Soccer side New York City FC. He became NYCFC's first homegrown player in July 2017.

Contents

Youth career

Sands joined New York Soccer Club, an affiliate of New York City FC, at age 10.[ citation needed ] In 2015, he joined New York City after the inception of the Under-16 academy side, alongside his twin brother Will Sands. [2]

Club career

New York City

In January 2017, Sands became the first Academy player to be included in the New York City FC roster for pre-season. [3] On June 27, 2017, he signed his first professional contract to begin on July 1. [2] The deal made him the club's first ever homegrown player. [4] Sands made his professional debut on September 16, 2017, coming on as a substitute for Andrea Pirlo in a 1–1 draw against Colorado Rapids.[ citation needed ]

In 2019, Sands became a regular starter for NYCFC, first as a defensive midfielder, and then as the central defender in a three-man back line once New York City FC switched formations.[ citation needed ]

In 2021, he started in MLS Cup 2021, in which New York City FC defeated the Portland Timbers in a penalty shootout to win their first ever MLS Cup. [5]

Louisville City (loan)

In 2018, Sands joined Louisville City in the second-division USL on a short-term loan from August 15 through September 1.[ citation needed ] Sands worked in Louisville under John Hackworth, who had previously coached Sands with the United States U17 team. [6]

Rangers (loan)

On January 5, 2022, Sands joined Scottish Premiership side Rangers on an initial 18-month loan deal with an option to buy. [7] On January 18, he made his Rangers debut during a 1–1 draw with Aberdeen.[ citation needed ] He made a substitute appearance in the 2022 UEFA Europa League final in which Rangers lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in a penalty shootout.[ citation needed ] On March 1, 2023, his loan was terminated and he returned to New York City FC. [8]

FC St. Pauli (loan)

On January 1, 2025, Sands signed for Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli on loan until the end of the 2024–25 season. [9] In May 2025, St. Pauli announced that Sands' loan was extended to the 2025–26 season. [10]

International career

Sands regularly featured for the United States under-17s in 2017 and helped his nation finish second in the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship in May. [11] The United States eventually lost to Mexico in a penalty shootout, although Sands scored and was named to the "Team of the Tournament." [12]

In July 2021, Sands was called up to the senior team for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup and made his debut against Haiti as a substitute. [13] He started in the final game of the tournament, in which the United States defeated Mexico 1–0.[ citation needed ]

In June 2023, interim coach BJ Callaghan called Sands to the 2023 Gold Cup roster.[ citation needed ] As of June 30, 2023, he started in both the games verses Jamaica and St. Kitts and Nevis.[ citation needed ]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played August 29, 2025 [14]
Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New York City FC 2017 MLS 10————10
2018 3010———40
2019 190————190
2020 160——3 [c] 02 [d] 0210
2021 260—40——300
2023 26010——2 [e] 0290
2024 291—40—5 [e] 0381
Total1201208030901421
Louisville City (loan) 2018 USL 30————30
Rangers (loan) 2021–22 Scottish Premiership 7020—5 [f] 0—140
2022–23 17011108 [g] 0—271
Total2403110130—411
FC St. Pauli (loan) 2024–25 Bundesliga 70————70
2025–26 2010———30
Total9010———100
Career total15616190160901962
  1. ↑ Includes U.S. Open Cup and Scottish Cup
  2. ↑ Includes MLS Cup Playoffs and Scottish League Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
  4. ↑ Two appearances in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage
  5. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
  6. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played July 12, 2023 [15]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 202170
202200
202360
Total130

Honors

Louisville City FC

New York City FC

Rangers

United States

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. January 9, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "James Sands Becomes NYCFC's First Homegrown Player". New York City FC. June 21, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  3. ↑ "James Sands: The Journey". New York City FC. June 21, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  4. ↑ "NYCFC makes historic signing: 16-year-old from their backyard". New York Post. June 21, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "2021 MLS Cup". Archived from the original on December 11, 2021.
  6. ↑ "James Sands joins Louisville City FC on loan". LouisvilleCityFC.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  7. ↑ "James Sands Signs For Rangers". www.rangers.co.uk. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Midfielder James Sands Returns After Loan Spell and Signs Contract Extension with New York City Football Club". www.nycfc.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  9. ↑ "FC St. Pauli Sign James Sands Signs on loan". fcstpauli.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  10. ↑ "@fcstapuli Instagram Post from May 20, 2025". instagram.com.
  11. ↑ "James Sands". New York City FC. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  12. 1 2 "CONCACAF U17 Championship: Sands Named to Best XI". New York City FC. May 9, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Meet the USMNT Newbies on the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Roster". www.ussoccer.com.
  14. ↑ James Sands at Soccerway . Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ James Sands at National-Football-Teams.com
  16. ↑ "Rangers 2–0 Hearts". BBC Sport. May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Eintracht Frankfurt 1–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  18. ↑ "United States beats Mexico in Gold Cup final on late Miles Robinson header". ESPN . August 1, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  19. ↑ "2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster". MLSsoccer.
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