HARRISON, N.J. – The Red Bulls have reached agreement with Southampton FC to bring winger Josh Sims back to the MLS club on loan, pending receipt of his P-1 visa, the team announced on Tuesday.

The loan will last from January until June 30, with an option to extend. Sims, 22, joined the Red Bulls for the second half of the 2019 season. He will be added to the roster as a Young Designated Player.

“We are pleased to reach an agreement to bring Josh back to New York,” Red Bulls sporting director Denis Hamlett said in a statement. “In his performances at the end of last season, we saw glimpses of why he was our top choice in last Summer’s transfer window. Josh is a player that can maximize our philosophy with his speed, aggressiveness and quality on the ball. We’re excited to see how Josh can build upon his time with us last year.”

While with the Red Bulls last season, Sims recorded a goal and assist in eight appearances over the final part of 2019. His goal came as an early spark in the playoff match against the Philadelphia Union, but he was forced out of with an injury in the 29th minute.

“Josh proved to be a great addition to our club last year, as a person and a player, and we’re pleased to bring him back,” Red Bulls head coach Chris Armas said in a statement. “Josh has so many qualities that we like and look for, and he made a difference for us in the final third. We expect him to play a big role heading into this season.”

Sims made his Southampton debut in the English Premier League in November 2016, earning an assist on the game-winning goal against Everton. Weeks later, he started for Southampton in a Europa League match, his first venture in European competition. Sims has made 26 appearances across all competitions for Southampton’s senior team, including 20 in the EPL, recording two assists in 573 league minutes.

“I’m delighted to have rejoined the New York Red Bulls on loan,” Sims said. “I enjoyed my time there last season but felt it was cut short, so I’m ready to start the season strongly and help push the team to improve on last season. I’m fit and ready to go, I felt New York was a good fit for me last season and that’s one of the reasons I’ve chose to come back, the boys, the staff, and everyone connected to the club made me feel welcome from the first minute and I can’t wait to see everyone again and rejoin the team.”

A native of Yeovil, England, Sims was a member of Southampton’s academy before being promoted to the first team in 2016. He has appeared for England at several youth international levels, most recently in the 2019 Toulon Tournament against Under-23 competition.

Sims will join the Red Bulls for preseason camp in Bradenton, Fla. when he receives his visa.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.