Born on the 28th of September 2006 in Leicester, James Scanlon joined Derby County as a young player. He was signed by the Manchester United Academy in the February of 2021, with the Red Devils moving to take advantage of the financial uncertainty around Derby County at the time. It was towards the end of the 2022-2023 campaign that Scanlon found himself playing for the Under-18s team on a more regular basis, being made a first-year scholar in the July. He became part of the UEFA Youth League team in 2023-2024, also making appearances for the Under-21s.
@emiratesfacup James Scanlon smashes home an equaliser in Manchester United U18’s #FAYouthCup semi-final 🇬🇮🫡 #FACup #mufc ♬ X-SLIDE (Ultra Slowed) – 2KE & 808iuli
Erik Ten Hag had Scanlon training with the first-team at times, such was the esteem in which the young player was held by the powers that be at Old Trafford. On the 13th of March 2025, that faith was continued by Ten Hag’s replacement, Ruben Amorim, when he named both Scanlon and his fellow youth player Tyler Fredricson in the squad for the Europa League round of 16 second-leg against Real Sociedad. A full Gibraltar international through his mother, he made his debut with the senior team in the March of 2024, going on to score his first international goal in the September and becoming his country’s youngest-ever goalscorer.