Ed James, a locally-born defender, started a two-year scholarship with Exeter City in August 2021 and turned professional in 2023 after making his first-team debut in 2022. 

During 2021/22 Ed played in defence for the under-18s in the EFL Youth Alliance and FA Youth Cup and also featured in the team that lost to Bideford on penalties in the final of the Devon St Luke’s Bowl. He started 2022/23 with a short spell on loan at Saltash United before returning to City to make his first-team debut on 4 October 2022 against Southampton under-21 in the EFL Trophy. He quickly followed this up with his league debut as a 36th minute substitute at home to Oxford United on 15th October 2022. Spending further spells on loan with Weymouth and Tiverton, Ed signed his first professional contract with Exeter City in March 2023 ahead of seeing out the season with Tiverton where he was a member of the side that won the Devon St Luke's Bowl.

Prior to the 2023/24 season Ed, together with Harry Lee, was loaned to Weston-super-Mare obstensibly until January 2024. Subsequently recalled by City ahead of schedule, Ed appeared against Arsenal under-21 in the EFL Trophy in October 2023 before being loaned to Dorchester Town where he was named young player of the year. Finishing the season in Dorset, Ed signed a contract extension with Exeter City in April 2024 until the end of the 2025/26 season and reappeared for the first-team against Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy in September 2024 together with captaining the under-21s in Premier League Cup fixtures.