LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC announced on Wednesday it had acquired U.S. Youth International James Sands on loan from New York City FC of Major League Soccer. The 18-year-old will remain with the club until September 1, and arrives having previously competed for new Louisville Head Coach John Hackworth as part of the U.S. U17 National Team over the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup cycle.

“We’re really excited to have a player of James’ quality come in and help this group,” said Hackworth. “He’s a bright, young talent and we’re glad he is coming with the mindset to contribute as much as he can in this time.

“I’ve known James for some time and have already had the pleasure of working with him, now it’s about hitting the ground running. He looked the part in training already so we will see what he can add during this stretch. We’re ready and I know he is, too.”

A native of Rye, New York, Sands began his youth career with New York Soccer Club before joining the NYCFC Academy upon the club’s entry to Major League Soccer in 2015. He signed as the club’s first Homegrown signing in on June 21, 2017 and made his MLS debut later that season when he came on as a substitute for Andrea Pirlo against the Colorado Rapids on September 16.

Sands was one of the leaders for the U.S. U17 National Team in the 2016-17 cycle, and was named to the Team of the Tournament at the 2017 Concacaf U17 Championships last May in Panama. Sands went on to appear in all five games for the U.S. at the FIFA U17 World Cup last summer in India as the side reached the Quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion England.