Ian James (soccer)
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ian James
| image =
| caption =
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2008|6|6}}
| birth_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
| height = 1.88m
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Sporting Kansas City
| clubnumber = 2
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Minnesota United
| youthyears2 = 2021–2024
| youthclubs2 = Sporting Kansas City
| years1 = 2024–
| clubs1 = Sporting Kansas City II
| caps1 = 10
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2024–
| clubs2 = Sporting Kansas City
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2024
| nationalteam1 = United States U16
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 16:33, 26 February 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 01:16, 1 December 2024 (UTC)
}}
Ian James (born June 6, 2008) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for the Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.
Club career
James joined the youth academy of Sporting Kansas City in 2021 from Minnesota United, and worked his way up their youth categories, before promoting to their reserve team in the MLS Next Pro for the 2024 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/sporting-kc-academy-defender-ian-james-appears-in-2024-mls-next-all-star-game-presented-by-allstate/n-6127386|title=Sporting KC Academy Defender Ian James Appears in 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game Presented by Allstate|date=23 July 2024|website=OurSports Central}} On 6 December 2024, he signed a Homegrown contract with the senior Sporting Kansas City club until 2027.https://www.kansascity.com/sports/soccer/sporting-kc/article296681429.html He made his senior debut with Sporting Kansas City as a substitute in a 3–1 CONCACAF Champions Cup loss to Inter Miami on 25 February 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://kcsoccerjournal.com/02/25/2025/skc-falls-out-of-concacaf-champions-cup-at-miami/|title=SKC falls out of Concacaf Champions Cup at Miami|first=Thad|last=Bell|date=25 February 2025|website=KC Soccer Journal}}
International career
Born in the United States, James is of Latvian descent. He was called up to the United States U16s for a domestic camp on 18 April 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingkcacademy.com/news_article/show/1310960|title=Sporting KC Academy duo Ian James and Jack Kortkamp called in for USYNT U-16 Domestic Camp|first=Jared|last=Belzer|date=18 April 2024|website=Sporting Kansas City Academy}} On 8 November 2024, he was called up for a training camp with the United States U17s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/u17-mnt-florida-training-camp-roster_aid54026|title=U17 MNT Florida Training Camp Roster | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer|website=TopDrawerSoccer.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|ian-james/867990}}
{{Sporting Kansas City squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Ian}}
Category:Sportspeople from St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:United States men's youth international soccer players
Category:African-American soccer players
Category:American people of Latvian descent
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Sporting Kansas City players
Category:Sporting Kansas City II players
Category:Major League Soccer players