James Robert Scanlon (born 28 September 2006) is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Manchester United. He represents the Gibraltar national football team at international level.

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]

Scanlon was born in the Midlands, England to an English father and Gibraltarian mother.^[6] 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.^[7] The next year he made his under-21 debut in a 2–0 defeat to Georgia in Kutaisi, on 6 September 2023.^[8] 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]

As of match played 26 September 2023^[9]

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.