James Sands
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
New York City Football Club announced on Wednesday that it has loaned its first-ever homegrown midfielder James Sands to Scottish club Rangers.
The loan will run until June 30, 2023, and will give Rangers the option to keep the Sands permanently on its end.
Sands has helped sustain New York City’s midfield streak this season, appearing in 30 regular season games along with all four post-season games, including the Major League Soccer final in which the Citizens won on penalties to claim their first championship. for them.
Ray, 21, of New York was also named to his first MLS All-Star Game in 2021 and was named NYCFC Young Player of the Year.
“2021 was the best year of my professional career, to be able to bring my first club championship is something I will remember forever,” Sands said. “It’s been an amazing year and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it – for the club I’ve been working with for so long. I hope in some way to be able to set an example and inspire other young footballers and other players in our academy.”
Sands has represented the New York City team, New York Football Club, since he was 10 years old and was selected by the MLS team when he created his under-16 team. He became the first local player to make his club debut at a professional level in 2017.
Now, join the Rangers who are the most productive team in all of Scotland. They have won the Scottish Premier League 55 times in their history, including the 2020-21 title that ended Celtic’s nine-year streak of dominance. Two of those titles came with Ronnie Della, the current New York City football manager, who captained Celtic in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Rangers are currently five points ahead of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League table. They also compete in the European League – the second tier of the continental club championship in Europe after the Champions League – where they sit second in Group A behind Lyon.
Improved competition will allow Sands to improve his game as he continues to find a role on the US men’s national team.
“While this has been a difficult decision for me to leave the club I love, I feel it is time in my career to test myself in another league and take on a new challenge in Europe,” Sands said. “Rangers is a fantastic club in a very competitive league with high expectations and a passionate fan base. It will be a great learning curve for me, and I feel ready for it.”
