| James Kotei | |
| Fullname: | James Agyekum Kotei |
| Birth Date: | 10 August 1993 |
| Birth Place: | Accra, Ghana |
| Height: | 1.8m (05.9feet) |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Calicut FC |
| Youthyears1: | 2002–2007 |
| Youthclubs1: | Corner Babies |
| Youthyears2: | 2007–2009 |
| Youthclubs2: | Golden Foot Academy |
| Years1: | 2010–2014 |
| Caps1: | 65 |
| Goals1: | 3 |
| Years2: | 2014–2015 |
| Clubs2: | → BA Stars (loan) |
| Caps2: | 25 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2015–2016 |
| Clubs3: | Al-Orouba |
| Caps3: | 8 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2016–2019 |
| Clubs4: | Simba |
| Caps4: | 75 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Years5: | 2019 |
| Clubs5: | Kaizer Chiefs |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2020 |
| Clubs6: | Slavia Mozyr |
| Caps6: | 0 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs7: | Sohar |
| Years8: | 2022–2024 |
| Clubs8: | Mtibwa Sugar |
| Years9: | 2024 |
| Clubs9: | Ittihad Shorta |
| Years10: | 2024– |
| Clubs10: | Calicut FC |
| Caps10: | 0 |
| Goals10: | 0 |
James Agyekum Kotei (born 10 August 1993) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Super League Kerala club Calicut FC.
Born and raised in Accra, Ghana. Kotei began his footballing career with Kumasi-based Corner Babies F.C. in 2002 when he was 9 years old.[1] In 2007, he moved to Golden Foot Academy where he played as an academy player for the renowned Accra-based football academy until 2009.
Kotei began his professional footballing career in 2010 with Dansoman-based club, Liberty Professionals F.C.[2]
He first left Ghana in 2015, joining Oman Professional League club Al-Oruba SC.[3] He made his debut for the club on 8 September 2015 in a 1–1 draw against Muscat Club in the 2015–16 Oman Professional League Cup. He made his league debut on 13 September 2015 in a 3–1 win over newly promoted side, Salalah SC.[4] He also made his debut in the Sultan Qaboos Cup on 30 December 2015 in a 2–1 win over fierce rivals, Sur SC.[5] He finished with 8 appearances in the 2015–16 Oman Professional League.
In December 2016, he moved out to Tanzania where on 13 December he signed a one-year contract with Tanzanian giants, Simba S.C.[6] He made his Tanzanian Premier League debut on 18 December 2016 in a 2–0 win over Ndanda F.C. He made his CAF Confederation Cup debut on 11 February 2018 against Nationale De Djibouti [7] [8] He was adjudged the most valuable player in his side's 5–4 penalty win over rivals Young Africans S.C. in the Semi-finals of the Mapinduzi Cup of Tanzania on 10 January.[9] [10]
In June 2019, Kotei signed for South African Premier Division side Kaizer Chiefs on a three-year contract.[11] He was released by the club in January 2020, having failed to make an appearance for the club.[12]
He signed for Belarusian club Slavia Mozyr in January 2020, before his contract was terminated in June 2020.[13]
Kotei plays as a defensive midfielder.