Swindon Town have secured the loan signing of attacking midfielder James Scanlon from Manchester United, bringing one of the Premier League club’s most highly regarded young talents to the County Ground, subject to EFL approval.
Scanlon arrives with an exciting reputation and the versatility to operate across the forward line, most often from the left. Right-footed, inventive and direct, the teenager adds pace, technical quality and creativity to Swindon’s attacking options as he takes his next step into senior football.
The Gibraltar international began his career at Derby County before making the move to Manchester United in early 2021. His progress through the academy system was swift, breaking into the Under-18s during the latter stages of the 2022/23 season before signing scholarship terms the following summer.
During the 2023/24 campaign, Scanlon was a regular feature in United’s UEFA Youth League run, while also gaining experience with the Under-21s and training alongside the first team under Erik ten Hag. His development was further recognised in May 2024 when he signed his first professional contract with the club.
That summer, he travelled with United’s senior squad on their pre-season tour of the United States and later collected the Best Forward award at the prestigious Otten Cup youth tournament. His strong form continued into the 2024/25 season, which saw him included in a senior matchday squad for the first time, named among the substitutes for United’s UEFA Europa League tie against Real Sociedad in March 2025.
Scanlon has already made headlines at international level. Eligible to represent both England and Gibraltar, he chose the latter and became the first Manchester United player to earn senior caps for Gibraltar while still at the club. He made his international debut in March 2024 and later that year scored his first senior goal, becoming Gibraltar’s youngest-ever goalscorer and the youngest player to score in the history of the UEFA Nations League.
Now at Swindon Town, Scanlon will be looking to translate his youth-level success into regular senior minutes, with the Robins offering an opportunity to test himself in the demands of first-team football.
The club have welcomed him to the County Ground and will hope the loan spell proves beneficial for both player and side as the season progresses.
