Prediction: NYCFC's James Sands will transfer to a German club in July 2026

James Sands is currently out on loan with FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga in Germany. The New York City FC midfielder initially joined the team last January, and then the loan was extended through June 2026 back in May. This was a great step for the player after his first loan deal with Rangers F.C. in Scotland did not go well, and he eventually returned home to the Pigeons.

The move back to NYCFC was extremely helpful for Sands. He had already blossomed into a young talent before his first move, but this time he turned into a star. The New Yorker became one of the best defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, and this caught the eye of Europe.

NYCFC player James Sands will stay in Germany

Hence, the Bronx side helped Sands find a perfect loan deal for the player, and that was St. Pauli. Of course, he had the injury setback that saw him miss months. However, the Bundesliga side was committed and agreed on the loan extension. But will he make the permanent move this summer? Will NYCFC ensure that he stays in Europe?

Truthfully, it is believed that the American will remain in Europe. It is predicted that he will stay in Germany. However, the prediction is that Sands will transfer to a different Bundesliga team this summer.

The reason why is simple: St. Pauli is in the relegation zone. The team is in 17th place and has just 14 points. They have won only three times in the regular season and have struggled immensely to get the results that they need.

Yet, Sands has been a consistent player for the team. The NYCFC Homegrown player has started every match except for one, in which he missed due to a concussion. He has been critical to the midfield, but as a whole, he cannot save the issues St. Pauli is going through. And when all is said and done, the team has played some good games. The results, and sometimes the goals, have not gone their way.

Since Sands likely would prefer first division football, and the likelihood of relegation continues to grow, NYCFC will transfer him to a different German team. Unless something drastic happens or if he loves his current team, Sands will go elsewhere.

Notably, there is the question of the team he would move to. At this time, it is impossible to know which team would be interested. But Sands continues to shine in the Bundesliga, and he and NYCFC will work together to make sure that he finds a transfer that he wants.