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James Sands

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James Sands
Sands with Rangers in 2022
Personal information
Full name James Hoban Sands[1]
Date of birth (2000-07-06) July 6, 2000 (age 26)
Place of birth Rye, New York, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 New York City FC
Number 6
Youth career
2010–2015 New York Soccer Club
2015–2017 New York City FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017– New York City FC 120 (1)
2018 → Louisville City (loan) 3 (0)
2022–2023 → Rangers (loan) 24 (0)
2025–2026 → FC St. Pauli (loan) 31 (1)
International career‡
2016–2017 United States U17 42 (1)
2021– United States 14 (0)
Medal record
Representing  United States
WinnerCONCACAF Gold Cup2021
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:30, March 8, 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of October 14, 2025

James Hoban Sands (born July 6, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back or defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer side New York City FC and United States national team. He became NYCFC's first homegrown player in July 2017.

Youth career

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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

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New York City

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

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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 versus Jamaica and St. Kitts and Nevis.[citation needed]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played March 8, 2026[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
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
Total 1201208030901421
Louisville City (loan) 2018 USL 30————30
Rangers (loan) 2021–22 Scottish Premiership 7020—5[f]0—140
2022–23 17011108[g]0—271
Total 2403110130—411
FC St. Pauli (loan) 2024–25 Bundesliga 70————70
2025–26 24140———281
Total 31140———351
Career total 17829190160902213
  1. ↑ Includes U.S. Open Cup, Scottish Cup and DFB-Pokal
  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

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As of match played October 14, 2025[15]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 202170
202200
202360
202400
202510
Total140

Honors

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Louisville City FC

New York City FC

Rangers

United States

Individual

References

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  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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