Ex-Rangers Midfielder James Sands Sidelined Indefinitely After Severe Ankle Injury
Former Rangers midfielder James Sands faces an indefinite spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious ankle injury while on loan at Bundesliga club St. Pauli. The USA international went down awkwardly in stoppage time during his team’s 1-0 victory over Freiburg, with St. Pauli manager Alexander Blessin admitting post-match that the injury looked “really bad.”
James Sands Undergoes Surgery Following Devastating Injury
The setback comes as a major blow for Sands, who joined St. Pauli on loan from NYCFC after previously spending 14 months at Rangers between 2022 and 2023. Following medical evaluation, it was confirmed that the 24-year-old had sustained a complex ankle injury, fracturing a bone and tearing a ligament. He has since undergone surgery at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf.
In an official statement, NYCFC confirmed the extent of the injury, revealing that Sands fractured his fibula and tore his medial collateral ligament. The MLS club expressed their support, stating:
“James Sands has undergone surgery to repair a complex ankle injury involving a fractured fibula and torn medial collateral ligament. The midfielder sustained the injury shortly before the final whistle of FC St. Pauli’s match against SC Freiburg. Everyone at the club wishes you all the best in your recovery, Jimmy. NYC is with you.”
With a long road to recovery ahead, Sands’ hopes of representing the USA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup—co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—are now uncertain.
Sands Reflects on Challenging Rangers Spell
Sands first arrived at Rangers on loan in January 2022 and was part of the squad that reached the Europa League Final that season. However, he also experienced the disappointment of Rangers falling short in the Scottish Premiership title race before returning to NYCFC in March 2023.
Reflecting on his time at Ibrox, Sands admitted it was a challenging period but one that ultimately helped him grow as a player.
“Rangers is such a big club that they dominate a lot of home games with possession. But away games can be much tougher, whether it’s due to pitch conditions or other factors. Learning how to get results in those situations was a big takeaway for me,” Sands explained.
He also highlighted the unique challenge of European football and how adapting to different styles of play helped his development.
“It was my first experience living abroad, and expecting everything to go perfectly would have been unrealistic. But overall, it made me a better player.”
For now, Sands’ focus will be on rehabilitation as he works toward a full recovery.
