New York City FC is in the middle of the offseason, but some of their players are still playing with other teams. As of today, the Boys in Blue have three players out on loan. Talles Magno is with Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, who he has been with since August 2024, Jovan Mijatović is still with Oud-Heverlee Leuven after renewing his loan over the summer, and James Sands has been with FC St. Pauli since last January and renewed the loan in May.
All three are still playing, but Magno's regular season is over, and he just has a few games left. Regardless, how are the NYCFC loanees doing with their current teams?
Checking in on the NYCFC players out on loan
Talles Magno
As mentioned, Magno's season is almost over, and so is his loan. Ending at the end of 2025, his future is up in the air because Corinthians reportedly will not pick up his purchase option. Hence, the winger will return to NYCFC, at least temporarily.
It is unknown what the Pigeons will do, whether they plan to find another loan or a permanent solution. But how did Magno do in Brazil with the 2025 campaign coming to a close?
As a reminder, Brazilian teams play a lot more matches compared to other leagues, especially Major League Soccer. Hence, there tends to be higher rotation for sides in Serie A, especially when they play in the continental tournaments. So, Magno did make 48 appearances in all competitions. However, most of the time he came off the bench, and he only played 1,985 minutes.
He also only scored six times, with just one goal in Serie A. His low production sadly continued from his time with NYCFC. That might be why he has spent most of his time on the bench since October.
In other words, Magno's loan did not go according to plan, and it makes sense that he is returning to NYCFC. Plus, Corinthians finished the regular season in 13th place and will seek to improve in 2026. Again, the next step is up in the air. Perhaps he will get a new chance under Pascal Jansen. As long as he is not forced to play as the striker, then that might be a decent idea.
Jovan Mijatović
One of the biggest disappointments for NYCFC in recent years has been Mijatović. The striker was supposed to be the big star, but failed to make an impact with the team. After one season, he clearly put it out there that he wanted to return to Europe, which is why he was loaned out to Oud-Heverlee Leuven. He had a rough start with the Belgian club and missed some time due to injury.
Thankfully, he was given another chance and had his loan extended. However, things are not going well for Mijatović. He has made 15 appearances in all competitions, and initially started the matches in the first part of the season. But with one goal to his name, he has predominantly come off the bench or remained a substitute since October.
Oud-Heverlee Leuven is not doing well either, for the team sits in 14th place in the Belgian Pro League. If things do not change, then they might find themselves in the relegation play-off.
Nevertheless, Mijatović has time to change things around. Since his loan lasts until June, NYCFC really needs that to be the case. Otherwise, they might find themselves suffering a full-on loss from the Serbian's transfer to the Boys in Blue.
James Sands
Finally, fan-favorite Sands initially had a great start with his time with FC. St. Pauli. Sadly, he was injured early into his loan and missed the remainder of the previous season. But the German side agreed to a new loan deal, and ultimately, the midfielder has been vital to the team.
He has started in 12 of the 13 Bundesliga games that he has been available for, and all three of the DFB-Pokal fixtures. He has one assist so far this season, but of course, being a defensive midfielder, Sands is not known for his offensive contributions.
With St. Pauli, he has played in the central midfield as well, highlighting his versatility. Still, the German side is struggling in their second season back in the first division. They are currently in 17th place and has only won two matches. Sands might be doing well, but whether he stays with the team at the end of the season could depend on the relegation outcome. No matter what, the NYCFC player should stay in Europe.
