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.
