Ian James

Sporting Kansas City signed defender Ian James as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2025 campaign, becoming the fourth youngest signing in Sporting KC history at the age of 16 years and 183 days. James represented Sporting at the U-14 through U-19 youth levels and broke into the U.S. U-16 and U-17 Men’s National Teams in 2024. James also played 10 matches for Sporting KC II during the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.

PROFESSIONAL

Sporting KC II (2024):

James made three first-team appearances for Sporting during the club’s 2024 preseason in Miami, including a shutout victory over Miami FC and matches against MLS foes Nashville SC and Charlotte FC. He later signed an amateur academy contract for Sporting KC II and earned his SKC II debut on March 17, a 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo 2. James logged 10 appearances in his first MLS NEXT Pro campaign, including starts in victories against Whitecaps FC 2 and LAFC 2.

ACADEMY

James represented Sporting at the U-14 through U-19 youth levels and broke into the U.S. U-16 and U-17 Men’s National Teams earlier this year. James also played 10 matches for Sporting KC II during the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.

A native of Minnesota, James captained the Sporting KC U-15s during the 2022-23 MLS NEXT season before spending most of the 2023-24 campaign with the U-17s, helping the team reach the quarterfinals of both the Generation adidas Cup in April and the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in June. Sporting’s playoff appearance was secured thanks to a perfect 3-0-0 record at MLS NEXT Flex, which saw James start in all three matches in Boyds, Maryland. James then participated in the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game on July 23 in Columbus, Ohio, as one of the top 44 academy players from across the country.

INTERNATIONAL

James earned his first selection to the U.S. U-16 Men’s National Team in April 2024 for a training camp in Florida. James returned to the U-16 squad the following month for a training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina, highlighted by participation in a friendly match against Argentina on May 30. In November 2024, James joined the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team for a training camp in West Palm Beach, Florida.