| James Scanlon | |
| Fullname: | James Robert Scanlon |
| Birth Date: | 28 September 2006 |
| Birth Place: | England |
| Position: | Attacking midfielder, Winger |
| Currentclub: | Manchester United |
| Clubnumber: | 63 |
| Youthyears1: | –2021 |
| Youthclubs1: | Derby County |
| Youthyears2: | 2021– |
| Youthclubs2: | Manchester United |
| Nationalyears1: | 2022 |
| Nationalteam1: | Gibraltar U17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 3 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam2: | Gibraltar U21 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2024– |
| Nationalteam3: | Gibraltar |
| Nationalcaps3: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 17 March 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 6 June 2024 |
James Robert Scanlon (born 28 September 2006) is a footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Manchester United and the Gibraltar national team.
A product of Derby County and Manchester United academies, Scanlon became the first Manchester United player to represent Gibraltar while at the club.[1]
Scanlon began playing youth football at Derby County before joining Manchester United in February 2021 amidst growing financial uncertainty at Pride Park.[2] After breaking into the under-18 team towards the end of the 2022–23 season,[3] he became a first-year scholar with the Red Devils in July 2023.[4] During the 2023–24 season he participated in the Red Devils' 2023–24 UEFA Youth League campaign while also making appearances for the under-21 side and training with the first team under Erik ten Hag.[5] He signed his first professional deal on 23 May 2024,[6] subsequently travelling with the first team on their pre-season tour of the United States.[7]
Scanlon was born in the Midlands, England to an English father and Gibraltarian mother,[8] making him eligible to represent England and Gibraltar. He is also eligible to represent Spain through his maternal grandmother. He first represented Gibraltar at under-17 level, scoring a brace on his debut as Gibraltar recorded a shock 8–2 win over Liechtenstein on 25 August 2022.[9] The next year he made his under-21 debut in a 2–0 defeat to Georgia in Kutaisi, on 6 September 2023.[10] On 15 March 2024, he was called up to a revamped senior team by head coach Julio César Ribas for their UEFA Nations League play-out against Lithuania.
On 21 March 2024, Scanlon made his senior debut as an 74th minute substitute for Liam Walker in a 0–1 loss against Lithuania.[1]
Scanlon's mother Gabriella (née Falero) is a former athlete who jointly holds the Gibraltarian record for the women's 4 × 100 m relay.[11] His younger brother, Luca, is also in the youth system at Manchester United, and has represented Gibraltar at youth level.