New York City FC Homegrown defender/midfielder James Sands is training with Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf, the latest notable MLSer on a training stint across the globe. A source confirms it is just a training stint, not a trial, and the player is expected to stay in Germany until mid-December.
Sands, 19, made his MLS debut in 2017 but broke into NYCFC's starting XI as a key player this season, starting 18 games. He likely would have continued to be a regular for the Eastern Conference's top team had he not suffered a broken collarbone in August.
Fortuna Dusseldorf are led by Americans Zack Steffen and Alfredo Morales.
Sands is far from the only MLSer getting extra reps in this offseason.
The likes of Colorado Rapids' Cole Bassett (Arsenal), Vancouver Whitecaps' Simon Colyn (PSV), FC Cincinnati's Spencer Richey (Crystal Palace), FC Dallas quartet Edwin Cerrillo, Ricardo Pepi, Bryan Reynolds and Thomas Roberts (Bayern Munich) and others have gone on, or are currently on, training stints this winter.
Autore: Stefano Bentivogli
Other news - News
Other news
- 00:17 Pep Guardiola’s Future: Could the United States Be His Next Coaching Destination?
- 00:04 Mike Brown Praises Knicks’ Turnaround After 0-3 Start
- 21:44 Knicks vs. Bucks Preview: Three Questions That Could Shape the Matchup
- 17:00 Etihad Park Opening: What NYCFC Fans Need to Know
- 16:00 NYCFC’s Young Players Face a Defining Opportunity Under a New Coach
- 15:00 Rebuild or Reset? How Much Should NYCFC Change This Offseason?
- 14:00 NYCFC Transfer Priorities: Three Areas to Assess Before Signing Anyone
- 04:00 Bénie Traoré’s Impact Gives NYCFC an Important Attacking Decision
- 03:00 Matt Freese’s Six-Save Finale Shows Why NYCFC Need More Around Him
- 02:00 Talles Magno’s Winning Goal Raises a Bigger Question About His NYCFC Future
- 01:00 NYCFC’s Late-Goal Problem Must Be the Next Coach’s First Fix
- 00:01 The 23 Dropped Points That Explain NYCFC’s Disappointing Season
- 23:00 Why NYCFC Missed the Playoffs: The Warning Signs Behind the Failure
- 22:00 Who Should Be NYCFC’s Next Head Coach? Five Qualities the Club Needs
- 21:00 NYCFC Part Ways With Pascal Jansen: What Went Wrong?
- 20:53 Head Coach Pascal Jansen to Depart New York City FC
- 10:00 NYCFC Missing the Playoffs: Was 2026 a Failure?
- 09:47 Talles Magno’s Late Goal Gives NYCFC 1-0 Win Over D.C. United
- 09:44 Knicks Beat Cavaliers 109-97 as Brunson and Towns Lead the Way
- 09:14 NYCFC Face Five Absences Ahead of Montréal Clash as O’Neill Remains a Doubt
- 09:09 Knicks Fall to 76ers 98–93 in NBA Cup Opener
- 14:00 Etihad Park Could Transform NYCFC Matchdays: What Fans Should Watch Next
- 13:00 NYCFC vs. Montréal: Three Questions That Could Shape New York’s Next Test
- 05:00 NYCFC Won Against Atlanta, but the Late Equalizer Still Deserves Attention
- 04:00 Nicolás Fernández Mercau Gives NYCFC a Crucial Set-Piece Option
- 03:00 Matt Freese Kept NYCFC in Contention Before Traoré Stole the Headlines
- 02:30 Knicks Trade Proposal Swaps Karl-Anthony Towns for Bam Adebayo
- 02:00 Alonso Martínez Injury Concern Forces NYCFC to Consider Its Attacking Alternatives
- 01:30 Knicks Expected to Decline Pacome Dadiet’s $5.37 Million Option: What It Means
- 01:00 NYCFC’s Playoff Hopes Survive: Why the Final Two Games Still Require Help
- 00:01 New York City FC Announces 2027 MLS Sprint Season Schedule
- 23:39 Bénie Traoré Delivers for NYCFC: Can His Stunning Winner Become a Turning Point?
- 09:00 NYC Marathon Preparations Accelerate as NYPD Announces Major Security Operation
- 08:46 Traoré’s Stoppage-Time Stunner Keeps NYCFC’s Playoff Hopes Alive
- 08:00 Brunson Scores 38 as Knicks Erase 19-Point Deficit to Beat Bulls
- 19:00 NYCFC vs Atlanta United: Five Signs That Would Show Real Progress
- 18:00 Has NYCFC Lost Its Identity? The Questions Behind a Difficult Season
- 17:24 Mikal Bridges Delivered From Deep While Jalen Brunson Found Another Way to Score
- 17:00 What Should NYCFC Prioritize When Planning Its Next Squad?
- 16:00 Which NYCFC Players Have the Most to Prove Before the Season Ends?
- 15:00 Three Games Left: What Would a Meaningful Finish Look Like for NYCFC?
- 14:00 Who Will Take Responsibility When NYCFC Needs It Most?
- 13:00 Why NYCFC Must Improve Its Management of Winning Positions
- 12:00 NYCFC vs Atlanta United Preview: New York Faces a Crucial Test as Time Runs Out
- 08:12 Karl-Anthony Towns Delivers a 27-Point, 20-Rebound Statement as Knicks Finally Win
- 05:00 Matt Freese’s Availability Could Shape NYCFC’s Final Stretch
- 04:00 Atlanta United Is Struggling Too—But NYCFC Cannot Afford Complacency
- 03:00 Four Home Wins: Why NYCFC Must Give Its Fans Something Back
- 02:00 What NYCFC Must Learn From Its Previous Atlanta United Disappointment
- 01:00 NYCFC Is Fighting to Avoid an Unwanted Place in Club History
- 00:01 Can NYCFC Still Reach the Playoffs? The Challenge Facing the Boys in Blue
- 22:30 NYCFC vs Atlanta United: A Must-Win Game for More Than Just the Playoffs
- 22:04 If Tomás Romero Starts, NYCFC Must Give Him Better Protection
- 21:37 NYCFC Faces Atlanta United With More Than Playoff Hopes on the Line
- 21:07 Karl-Anthony Towns Is Giving the Knicks a Reason to Rethink Their Offense
- 18:00 NYCFC Faces Matt Freese Injury Concern at a Crucial Moment
- 17:00 Tyler Kolek Gave the Knicks Nine Reasons to Look Again—But One Big Question Remains