James Nolan (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Stephen Nolan | ||
| Date of birth | 2 October 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Chorley, England | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2025 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan) | 30 | (1) |
| 2025 | Marine | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12:52, 29 September 2025 (UTC) | |||
James Nolan (born 2 October 2005) is an English footballer who plays as a defender, most recently for Marine.
He is the younger brother of Chorley midfielder Joe Nolan.
Career
Nolan started his career progressing through the youth ranks of Manchester United, winning the U-18 Premier League along the way, before signing his first professional contract in 2023,[1] playing with the reserves in the Premier League 2, before making his professional debut on 22 August 2023, playing the full match in a 1–1 away draw to Stockport County in the EFL Cup, in which he scored in the subsequent penalty shootout as United won 5–3.[2]
On deadline day 2024, Nolan joined Scottish League One side, Inverness Caledonian Thistle on loan,[3][4] before making his first team debut as a substitute in a 1–0 home win over Queen of the South on the same day.[5] On 21 September, Nolan scored his first professional goal in a 1–1 home draw with Cove Rangers.[6]
In August 2025, Nolan joined Marine.[7] He departed the club in September 2025.[8]
Career statistics
- As of match played 6 September 2025
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United U21 | 2023–24[9] | — | — | — | 3[c] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2024–25[10] | — | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan) | 2024–25[10] | Scottish League One | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| Marine | 2025–26[11] | National League North | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Career total | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 1 | ||
- ^ Includes Scottish Cup, FA Cup
- ^ Includes Scottish League Cup
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup
Honours
Manchester United
- Under-18 Premier League: 2023–24
References
- ^ Railston, Steven (4 August 2023). "Manchester United youngster James Nolan signs first professional contract". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Live Commentary - Stockport vs Manchester United U21 | 22 August 2023". Sky Sports. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ Team, CentreDevils (31 August 2024). "Inverness Caledonian Thistle officially sign Man United defender". centredevils. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Loan news: Nolan joins Inverness". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Inverness CT vs Queen of the South: League One". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Inverness CT vs Cove Rangers: League One". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ "James Nolan Joins Marine". marinefc.com. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "James Nolan departs Marine". marinefc.com. 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ "Games played by James Nolan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Games played by James Nolan in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ^ "Games played by James Nolan in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2025.