James William Hanson (born 10 November 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for League One club Oxford United.
Hanson was a product of the Derby County academy with more than ten years at the club. He made his Football League debut for the Rams on 14 March 2015, starting against Norwich City in a 1–1 away draw at Carrow Road. In the 66th minute, with Derby 1–0 down, he swung in a corner kick and seemed to have scored the equalizing goal on his debut, but it was given as an own goal by Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy, who fumbled it over the line. Derby later appealed the decision with the Football League, and the goal was credited to Hanson on 19 March, meaning that he had scored for the club on his professional debut. He played one more match in the 2014–15 season, playing 70 minutes in a 1–0 home defeat to Middlesbrough on 17 March.
Hanson played more regularly in the 2015–16 season; his first appearance coming on 15 August, playing 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic, playing at the base of Derby's midfield three. He started again on 18 August against Middlesbrough but had to be withdrawn after 39 minutes because of injury. He missed the next match because of it, but returned for the following match, a 2–1 home defeat to Leeds United on 29 August. He signed a new three-year contract with Derby on 7 September and since then, he made five more league appearances, all of them as a substitute.