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.
#RangersFC can today confirm James Sands has returned to parent club @NYCFC.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 1, 2023
Everyone at Rangers wishes him well moving forwards.
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.
Oliver Thomas
