James Sands: Joining St. Pauli was about competing “at the highest level”

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Former Rangers midfielder 

©TM/IMAGO

It can be a big transition from playing Major League Soccer games at Yankee Stadium for  New York City FC to the Millerntor-Stadion home of Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli and one of the loudest grounds in Germany. “It is very cool to see; the stadium here is incredible,” US men’s national team midfielder  James Sands said as part of a roundtable to Transfermarkt. “The fans here do such a job making the atmosphere good and loud. New York is definitely a different experience.”

Although heading from MLS to Germany can be a culture shock, Sands at least can bank on previous European experience. It is the second time the 24-year-old Rye, New York native, is trying to establish himself in Europe. From January 2022 to March 2023, Sands went on loan to Scottish giants Rangers. During that time, the defensive midfielder, who can also play as a center-back, managed one goal in 41 appearances. Ultimately, though, the loan wasn’t the biggest success, and Sands rejoined NYCFC ahead of the 2023 MLS season. 

Despite not establishing himself at Rangers, Sands believes the time in Scotland will help him during his second spell in Europe. “Rangers is very big club, and during my time with them, I played many big games with big atmospheres,” Sands said about his experience of playing at Ibrox. “Now that I am in the Bundesliga, which has very similar types of atmospheres having that experience can really help.”

Sands: Experience with Rangers made adjusting to St. Pauli “much easier”

The previous experience in Europe has also helped Sands on the pitch. “You know, when I was at Rangers, I learned a different style of play than I was used to in New York,” Sands said. “Having to make that adjustment and that adaptation, having done that once already, made adjusting to the way St. Pauli play much easier.” But it wasn’t just the time at Rangers that helped make Sands a more complete player. “I have experience playing in midfield and as a center-back,” Sands said. “But when I returned from Rangers to New York, one of the big discussions was about me featuring in midfield more consistently. Fair credit to New York; they held up their end of the bargain, and in the two years I was with the club the second time around, I managed to develop and make the step back to Europe.”

James Sands in action for St. Pauli (IMAGO)

It was certainly Sands’ development as a midfielder that made him an interesting target for St. Pauli this winter. Prior to joining the Hamburg-based club on a loan deal that will run until the end of the season with an option for the 2025/26 season, Sands provided important defensive stability to NYCFC. When compared to other midfielders in MLS on FBREF, Sands ranked 88th percentile with 2.85 tackles per 90, 80th percentile with 1.59 interceptions per 90, 84th percentile with 1.55 blocks per 90, 91st percentile with 1.83 clearances per 90, and 98th percentile with 1.83 aerial duels won per 90.  

St. Pauli, in turn, were looking for a player who could help stabilize the midfield and add defensive steel to the core group. Before becoming the seventh US American to join St. Pauli, the club ranked 14th going into the winter break. Since the winter break, Sands has featured in all six Bundesliga games—in that stretch, St. Pauli ranked ninth in the league with two wins, one draw, and three defeats. The record is even better when looking only at games Sands has started in. In those four games, St. Pauli won twice, drew once, and only lost once. As a result, they are now seven points clear of the relegation playoff spot.

Sands: Goal is “to play in the Bundesliga next season” – National team pool “has many talented players in midfield” 

“A clear goal of this group is to play in the Bundesliga next season,” Sands said. “I think coach [ Alexander Blessin] here does a very good job of ensuring a clear style of play everyone can buy into.” Part of that style of play is to be solid defensively, and with only 24 goals conceded St. Pauli have the second-best defense in the Bundesliga after Bayern Munich. “We have a very good defensive record that helps us pick up points and win games. The first six games here have been very good, and I hope we can keep this momentum going over the next five games and establish ourselves.”

Establishing himself at St. Pauli should also help Sands prospect with the national team. Before moving to Germany, Sands was supposed to participate in the January US men’s national team camp. But that fell through once the transfer to the Bundesliga club materialized. “Looking at the national team pool, there are many talented players in midfield,” Sands said. “I knew to have a realistic chance to make the team, I would have to compete at a very high level in Europe. And playing for the national team is one of my goals.” 

With the 2026 World Cup in North America just around the corner, the pressure to perform at the highest level becomes even more paramount for players like Sands, who might be on the cusp of making the US men’s national team. “Making the move to Europe wasn’t just about the national team,” Sands said. “I wanted to compete and challenge myself at the highest level. So being called up would be nice, but it won’t make or break my experience.” But if Sands keeps playing like this, it will increase St. Pauli’s chances to stay in the league and improve his chances of perhaps making the team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.