New York City FC midfielder James Sands will miss significant time following a right ankle injury while on loan with FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga over the weekend. The injury is described as quite substantial with no timetable yet on a return.
Sands joined St. Pauli after the 2024 season and was expected to remain with the club until June. While there, it was anticipated that he would either make the move permanent or find another move within Europe to fulfill the goal of competing in Europe’s highest leagues. That dream has taken a blow with this injury but expectations are that he will return following surgery.
The young American played 29 games for NYCFC last season with all of them being starts. He anchored a midfield that helped the Pigeons return to the MLS Cup Playoffs after missing the mark in 2023. Previously, the Rye native made the move to Europe with Scottish first division side Celtic but returned to MLS after being unable to make his mark. The move to the Bundesliga was supposed to be the launching pad but now that elevation is on delay.
New York City will kick off their regular season next week without Sands against Inter Miami at Chase Stadium.
photo by Jordan Bank