USMNT midfielder James Sands will stay at Bundesliga club St. Pauli on a season-long loan deal.
Sands joined the German club in January on a loan deal for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign from New York City FC, with that agreement now being extended by a further season.
The 24-year-old is currently out indefinitely after undergoing surgery in February on what was described as a “complex ankle injury” which was sustained in a league game against Freiburg.
“Missing a large part of the second half of the season is obviously a disappointment, but at the same time, it motivates me to return to the pitch as soon as possible so that we can build on what we’ve achieved together,” Sands said upon his loan renewal.
St. Pauli’s head coach Alexander Blessin said of the U.S. international’s renewal: “He has shown that with his tactical understanding, flexibility, and skillful tackling, he can contribute greatly to our stability.”
St. Pauli, promoted back to the Bundesliga a year ago, finished 14th in the German top-flight, three points above the relegation play-off place.
Sands, who has made 13 international appearances, previously had loan spells at Louisville City and Scottish club Rangers.
Sands stay good for all parties
This is good news for everybody. Sands made such a strong impression at St.Pauli before his injury and it happened just after he had really started to show his worth to the side.
Alexander Blessin’s side were newly promoted this season and managed to survive in the Bundesliga on account of an excellent defensive record. Sands, who is such a strong tackler and sturdy defensive player generally, was a natural fit for a team that depended on its organisation.
But his versatility was a great strength, too. At different times, Sands was used in midfield, typically in tandem with club captain Jackson Irvine, or within a three-man defence, offering cover, but also allowing Eric Smith, St.Pauli’s ball-playing Swedish centre-back, to be moved further forward as necessary.
He was playing some of the best football of his career when he suffered that injury against Freiburg, and seemed at home at the Millerntor Stadium and in Hamburg more broadly. He showed enough on the pitch, too, that he is worth this leap of faith from the club, even though he will likely not be fit for the start of the new season.
(Inaki Esnaola/Getty Images)