New England receives 24-year-old outside back and general allocation money in exchange for defender DeJuan Jones
Sands, 24, joins New England after three seasons in Columbus, where the Rye, N.Y. native collected 25 league appearances, including 16 starts, and three assists for the Crew. In 2023, Sands featured in seven games, all starts, and logged two assists, helping Columbus to the MLS Cup title. This season, the left back has posted six appearances, four of them starts, in 2024.
Prior to arriving in Columbus, Sands played three seasons of collegiate soccer at Georgetown University from 2019-21. Sands registered 56 career appearances for the Hoyas, with four goals and five assists. Sands helped Georgetown win the NCAA College Cup during his freshman campaign in 2019, in addition to helping guide the Hoyas to Big East Conference titles in 2019 and 2021. On the youth international level, Sands featured for the United States at the Under-17 and Under-19 levels.
“We are excited to welcome Will Sands, a talented left-footed defender with ample MLS experience, to New England,” Revolution Sporting Director Curt Onalfo said of the club’s newest acquisition. “Will brings solid MLS experience to our backline and has all the tools to succeed here in New England. Will’s arrival provides additional cover for us at the outside back position, which will be an important asset as we pursue a playoff berth over the final 11 games of the season.”
Jones departs New England in the midst of his sixth professional season after arriving as a first-round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. The Lansing, Mich. native registered 142 MLS appearances for New England, including 127 starts, with six goals and 22 assists. Jones helped the Revolution qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs in four of his five seasons with the club, including an appearance in the Eastern Conference Final in 2020 and the club’s first Supporters’ Shield title in 2021.
“The entire Revolution organization is tremendously grateful to have had DeJuan Jones representing our club for the past five-and-a-half seasons,” Onalfo said. “DeJuan is an exceptional person and a true professional who has always given his best to the club on the field, in the locker room, and in the community. We wish DeJuan all the best in Columbus and will always consider him part of the Revolution family.”
New England returns to action next Tuesday, August 6, when the Revolution host Nashville SC in the final match of the Leagues Cup 2024 Group Stage. The Revolution currently sit first in East Group 5 entering Wednesday night’s action, following their 1-0 win against Mazatlán FC in the group stage opener. Tuesday’s 7:30 p.m. ET match airs nationally on FS1 and is free to watch on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution acquire defender Will Sands and $600,000 in General Allocation Money from the Columbus Crew in exchange for defender DeJuan Jones on July 31, 2024. The Revolution will receive $300,000 in 2024 GAM and $300,000 in 2025 GAM and will retain a portion of the fee if Jones is transferred abroad.
