Bolton Wanderers in 2008 Nolan was invited to a
Bolton Wanderers youth team training session by a friend, and was soon signed up to the club's books. At the age of 16, he was handed a year-to-year contract, coinciding with the opening of Bolton's academy. A year later, he signed professional terms and made his first team debut. He played the whole match as
Bolton Wanderers beat
Preston North End in the First Division play-off, winning promotion to the
Premier League. In the
2001–02 season, his first in the Premier League, Nolan scored eight league goals, including two at
Leicester City on the opening day of the season. The following season, he scored at Old Trafford again; Nolan's only goal of the season was the winner at Old Trafford in the game which saw Bolton record their second shock win at the ground in as many seasons, this time winning 1–0. Manchester United manager
Alex Ferguson was reported to have been seen scouting Nolan. Despite that win early in the season, the club were only saved from relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season with a win against Middlesbrough. In the
2003–04 season, Nolan's goals against
Aston Villa and
Tottenham Hotspur helped Bolton finish eighth in the league. He also scored as the club beat Villa 5–2 in the semi-finals of the
League Cup, and was part of the team that was defeated 2–1 by
Middlesbrough in the final. Despite this defeat, Nolan's goals—a career-best 12 in all competitions—helped Bolton to their highest Premier League finishing position in over forty years. The club reached the last 32 of the UEFA Cup the following season; Nolan's goal in the first round defeat of
Lokomotiv Plovdiv helped them through the group stages. He scored the winner as the club overcame
Zenit St. Petersburg 1–0 in the group stages, and a further nine in the league to help Bolton finish eighth, missing out on European qualification. Despite reaching the first knockout round, Bolton's league form suffered as they were pulled into a relegation fight, eventually finishing the season one point above the relegation zone in 16th. Nolan scored in the 2–0 win over Sunderland in May that virtually secured the club's Premier League status. Having made 323 league appearances for the club, in January 2009 following perceived criticism of his performances by some of the club's supporters, Nolan began talks with representatives of
Newcastle United over a move to the north-east club.
Newcastle United trophy aloft in 2010 On 29 January 2009, Newcastle agreed a £4 million fee with Bolton Wanderers, and Nolan completed his move that the same day, signing a -year contract. On 22 February, Nolan received his first red card playing for Newcastle United in a home match against Everton for a two-footed foul on
Victor Anichebe. At the end of the season, Newcastle were relegated to the English Championship. Nolan was noted as one of the more vocal Newcastle players over the summer, demanding an end to the off the field distractions at the club, and suggesting the club should be looking to acquire players for an immediate return to the Premier League. Nolan played a key role in Newcastle's push for promotion the following season; he scored his first league goal for Newcastle on 22 August against
Crystal Palace, He was voted as the Championship Player of the Year at the
Football League Awards on 16 March. Newcastle took to the field hours later, in front of 48,750 fans, and Nolan scored the winner with a scissor-kick in the 2–1 win over
Sheffield United. Nolan was named as the new Newcastle United club captain for the
2010–11 season, succeeding the retired Nicky Butt. Nolan scored his first goals of the season as he netted a brace in Newcastle's 6–0 win against Aston Villa in their first home game. On 31 October 2010, Nolan scored his first
Premier League hat-trick, achieving the feat in the
Tyne–Wear derby against
Sunderland in a 5–1 home win. Nolan scored the opener against Liverpool in new manager
Alan Pardew's first game in charge on 11 December 2010, which Newcastle went on to win 3–1. Nolan scored the opening goal in the second derby of the season against Sunderland on 16 January, which finished 1–1. On 26 February 2011, Nolan scored his 50th Premier League goal, against his former club, Bolton Wanderers at
St James' Park, which finished 1–1.
West Ham United in 2012 West Ham confirmed the signing of Nolan on 16 June 2011 for an undisclosed fee on a five-year contract, taking over the vacant number 4 shirt. Due to the departure of the previous West Ham captain,
Matthew Upson, who moved to
Stoke City, Nolan was immediately made captain. His league debut came on 7 August 2011 in a 1–0 home defeat to Cardiff City. Nolan scored his first goal for West Ham on 13 August 2011 in a 1–0 away win against
Doncaster Rovers; his first
home goal coming on 26 November, when scored a 25-yard
volley in a 3–1 win against
Derby County. On 7 May 2012 en route to the play-off final at
Wembley, Nolan scored his thirteenth goal for the club against Cardiff City in a 3–0 win, sealing West Ham's Wembley appearance. On 19 May 2012 he captained West Ham in the
2012 Championship play-off final against
Blackpool. West Ham won the match 2–1 with goals from
Carlton Cole and
Ricardo Vaz Tê sending them back to the
Premier League after a one-season absence. Nolan continued his good form into the 2012–13 season and scored his first goal of the season on the opening day, scoring the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win against
Aston Villa. On 1 September, he scored inside one minute during a 3–0 win at home to
Fulham. He scored his third goal of the season on 22 September, rescuing a point for West Ham by scoring in added time in a 1–1 draw at home to
Sunderland. On 20 April 2013 Nolan scored his 100th career goal, netting the second goal in a 2–0 home victory against
Wigan Athletic. Nolan wrapped up the 2012–13 season by scoring his second Premier League
hat-trick in a 4–2 win against
Reading on 19 May 2013. This hat-trick meant that Nolan had scored 10 league goals in a season for the fourth season in succession. Nolan started the 2013–14 campaign by scoring in the first game of the season again, in a 2–0 home win against Cardiff City. West Ham struggled in the first half of the season and Nolan's influence on games was described as "low key". In December 2013 he was sent-off at
Anfield in a defeat by Liverpool for a foul on
Jordan Henderson. After serving a three match ban he was dismissed again, in only his second match back, for a foul on
Fulham's
Fernando Amorebieta in a 2–1 defeat at
Craven Cottage. He was fined two weeks wages, £100,000, by West Ham with manager Sam Allardyce considering removing the captaincy of the club from Nolan. Nolan finished as top scorer for West Ham in the
2013–14 season. At the start of the
2014–15 season he played in the first game, a 1–0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur but before their second game he fractured his shoulder in training, an injury which was expected to keep him out of football for at least six weeks. Nolan played 29 games for West Ham in the 2014–15 season, 10 after coming on as a substitute. Having been top scorer in the previous two seasons, he scored a single goal, in a 2–1 away win against
West Bromwich Albion in December 2014. Nolan received criticism for some of his performances during the season, notably from some
West Ham supporters and from Jack Sullivan, the son of West Ham's co-chairman,
David Sullivan. His last game for the club came on 22 August 2015 against
AFC Bournemouth. Starting the game, Nolan was substituted for
Matt Jarvis at half-time with his side already 2–0 behind in an eventual 4–3 home loss. Five days later, Nolan left West Ham United by mutual consent after four years at the club. He had played 157 games for West Ham in all competitions, scoring 31 goals. ==Coaching career==