# Martin James (French footballer)
**Martin James** (born 2008) is a French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for [Bundesliga](https://www.edgepedia.org/bundesliga) club 1. FC Köln and has represented France at under-18 level.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2008, Versailles (Yvelines), France[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10872-james-martin/fiche.html) |
| Position | Goalkeeper; 1.86 m, 80 kg, left-footed[2](https://www.transfermarkt.com/martin-james/profil/spieler/1077676) • [3](https://theanalyst.com/players/8199/martin-james) |
| Current club | 1. FC Köln, joined 24 July 2026 as a free agent from Paris Saint-Germain, contract to June 2028, shirt number 21[4](https://www.flashscore.fr/joueur/james-martin/Aw2u7nS6/) • [5](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/player/martin-james/) |
| Youth career | AO Buc Football (2015–2016), FC Versailles 78 (2016–2020), AS Meudon (2020–2022), Paris Saint-Germain (2022–2025)[2](https://www.transfermarkt.com/martin-james/profil/spieler/1077676) |
| International | France U18/U19, 1 cap, 90 minutes, a 1–0 win over Hungary on 28 March 2026[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10872-james-martin/fiche.html) |
| Honors | Trophée des champions 2025 and Championnat National U19 2025 with Paris Saint-Germain[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10872-james-martin/fiche.html) |
## Youth career
James was born in Versailles in the Yvelines department west of Paris[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10872-james-martin/fiche.html). He began in the youth setup of AO Buc Football in 2015, moved to FC Versailles 78 a year later, and spent two seasons with AS Meudon from 2020 to 2022[2](https://www.transfermarkt.com/martin-james/profil/spieler/1077676). In July 2022 he joined the Paris Saint-Germain academy, where he progressed through the under-19 ranks[2](https://www.transfermarkt.com/martin-james/profil/spieler/1077676).
## Paris Saint-Germain
At PSG James played for the club's youth and reserve sides. In the 2025/2026 [UEFA Youth League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-youth-league) he made 9 appearances, conceded 9 goals, and kept 3 clean sheets[6](https://footystats.org/players/france/martin-james). He was the starting goalkeeper in the club's run to the competition's semifinals, which ended in elimination by Real Madrid[7](https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/psg/psg-le-gardien-martin-james-sur-le-point-de-quitter-paris-13-06-2026-HQ4HKDCW25DO7FQZVRWWWFFPME.php).
During the same season he was included several times in the first-team squad of head coach [Luis Enrique](https://www.edgepedia.org/luis-enrique), sitting on the bench as third goalkeeper in Champions League matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Athletic Bilbao, Sporting CP, and Newcastle United[7](https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/psg/psg-le-gardien-martin-james-sur-le-point-de-quitter-paris-13-06-2026-HQ4HKDCW25DO7FQZVRWWWFFPME.php). He did not make a competitive first-team appearance for PSG; his 2025/2026 club record with the senior side lists 10 squad inclusions across [Ligue 1](https://www.edgepedia.org/ligue-1), the [Coupe de France](https://www.edgepedia.org/coupe-de-france), the Trophée des Champions, and the Champions League, with 0 minutes played[8](https://www.maxifoot.fr/joueur/martin-james-257800.htm). He was part of the squad for PSG's 2025 Trophée des champions and the 2025 Championnat National U19 title[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10872-james-martin/fiche.html).
## Move to 1. FC Köln
As his aspirant (youth) contract neared its end, PSG offered James his first professional contract, but in June 2026 he decided to leave and pursue a new challenge, with reports indicating he was oriented toward a club qualified for European competition[7](https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/psg/psg-le-gardien-martin-james-sur-le-point-de-quitter-paris-13-06-2026-HQ4HKDCW25DO7FQZVRWWWFFPME.php). On 24 July 2026 he signed for Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln as a free agent on a two-year contract running to June 2028[4](https://www.flashscore.fr/joueur/james-martin/Aw2u7nS6/). He took the number 21 shirt[5](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/player/martin-james/). In the opening weeks of the 2026/2027 Bundesliga season he had not yet made a league appearance[5](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/player/martin-james/).
## International career
James has appeared for French youth national teams. His single recorded cap came at under-18 level in the 2027 UEFA U19 Championship qualification round for Czechia: on 28 March 2026 he played the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 win over Hungary[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10872-james-martin/fiche.html). He was an unused substitute in the other two matches of that qualifying window, against Wales and Switzerland[1](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10872-james-martin/fiche.html).
## References
1. [Martin JAMES, Fédération Française de Football](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10872-james-martin/fiche.html)
2. [Martin James, Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/martin-james/profil/spieler/1077676)
3. [Martin James, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/8199/martin-james)
4. [Martin James, FC Cologne stats, Flashscore](https://www.flashscore.fr/joueur/james-martin/Aw2u7nS6/)
5. [Martin James, 1. FC Köln, Player Profile, Bundesliga](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/player/martin-james/)
6. [Martin James Stats, FootyStats](https://footystats.org/players/france/martin-james)
7. [PSG : le gardien Martin James sur le point de quitter Paris, Le Parisien (13 June 2026)](https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/psg/psg-le-gardien-martin-james-sur-le-point-de-quitter-paris-13-06-2026-HQ4HKDCW25DO7FQZVRWWWFFPME.php)
8. [Martin JAMES, fiche joueur FC Cologne, Maxifoot](https://www.maxifoot.fr/joueur/martin-james-257800.htm)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › French footballers born 1995 onward › Defenders and goalkeepers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license