The teenager impressed the club while playing with the first team during preseason, and has now signed his first pro deal
New York City FC has announced that it has signed defender James Sands as the first homegrown player in the club's history.
Sands, 16, was a member of affiliate team New York Soccer Club until NYCFC added him to its academy in 2015.
“I’m really excited – this is a big dream come true for me from ever since I was little kid playing in my back yard to now," Sands told the club's official website.