MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 10:17:30| >> :600:2197530:2197530:

Rangers confirm James Sands departure, returns to New York City FC

Rangers confirm James Sands departure, returns to NYCFC
© Reuters
Rangers confirm that USA international James Sands has returned to parent club New York City FC after 14 months on loan with the Glaswegian giants.

Rangers have confirmed that USA international James Sands has returned to parent club New York City FC.

The 22-year-old joined the Gers on loan in January 2022, but was unable to stake a claim for regular first-team football, starting only five of his 14 appearances during the second half of last season.

Nevertheless, Sands featured five times for Rangers in the knockout rounds of the Europa League, including a substitute outing in the final against eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt, while he also featured in the Scottish Cup final triumph over Hearts, with the Gers' lifting the trophy for the first time in 13 years.

Sands was then in and out of the starting lineup at the beginning of this season, but still managed to make 19 appearances before Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked just before the World Cup, including three starts in the Champions League group stage.

However, the versatile defender – who can also operate in midfield – struggled for game time under new boss Michael Beale, starting just three of the last 15 games in all competitions.

The American was not named in Rangers' matchday squad for last Sunday's Scottish League Cup final defeat to rivals Celtic at Hampden Park, and the Gers have since confirmed that his loan spell at Ibrox has come to an end.

Speaking to the club's official website on Sands' departure, Beale said: "I would like to thank James for his time at Rangers. He was a well-liked player in our squad and I enjoyed working with him on a daily basis. I believe he will go on to have an excellent career.

"The opportunity to return to NYCFC for the start of the MLS season, where he will be a key player in their squad, was something that we felt was correct for all parties. Everyone at Rangers wishes him well moving forwards."

Sands made a total of 41 appearances in all tournaments for Rangers, scoring once in a 3-2 Scottish Cup win over Partick Thistle earlier this season.

The New York-born defender will now return to boyhood club NYCFC where he won the 2021 MLS Cup and made a total of 76 appearances, including his professional debut back in 2017.

NYCFC suffered defeat in their first MLS game of the 2023 campaign, losing 2-0 away against Nashville last weekend.

ID:507883:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3616:
Written by
Oliver Thomas

Click here for more stories about James Sands

Click here for more stories about New York City FC

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Rangers manager Michael Beale pictured before the match on January 2, 2022
Read Next:
Beale: 'Rangers vs. Celtic is the biggest rivalry in the world'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!