St. Pauli pick up USMNT midfielder, new striker to follow? | OneFootball

Twenty-four-year-old American midfielder James Sands will spend the second half of the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign on loan with Hamburg's "Kiezkicker". FC St. Pauli confirmed a six-month-loan for the 13-times-capped USMNT international on New Year's day. The defensive midfielder, who can also play center back, maintains an estimated market worth of €3 million in the latest transfermarkt update.

Sands hails from the New York City FC academy and has contested 142 competitive appearances for the Bronx-based club. The New York native also accrued international experience on loan with Glasgow Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, in the process making 13 UEFA Champions' League appearances. He represented his country at both the 2021 and 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cups.

Sands' signing came as a surprise as there had been no previously established links with the American. The local Hamburger Morgenpost reports that St. Pauli have made progress with a striker they've been rumored to be pursuing.Gambian international Abdoulie Ceesay - currently on loan in Estonia - might be picked up soon once some beuqacratic hurdles are cleared.

“James Sands brings a very exciting mix of athleticism and footballing ability," St. Pauli sporting director Andreas Bornemann noted of his New Year's Day signing. "The fact that he can play in both central defensive midfield and central defense is another positive aspect. Since he has already played at a high level in Europe, we are confident that he will acclimatize to the Bundesliga quickly.”

“Even football fans in New York know about FC St. Pauli," the player himself added. "The people in charge showed me very convincingly what the club's ambitions are and what role I can play in them. For me, moving to one of the strongest European leagues is a great challenge that I'm really looking forward to.”