Morecambe have strengthened their attacking options with the signing of winger Jack Nolan following his departure from Gillingham.
The 24-year-old has penned a deal at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium after his contract in Kent was terminated by mutual consent on deadline day. The move is something of a surprise, as Nolan was highly sought after when he first moved to Kent.
Nolan arrives with plenty of EFL experience under his belt, having represented Walsall, Accrington Stanley and most recently Gillingham. A former England Under-17 international, he began his career in the Reading academy before moving to Walsall in 2020, where he made 16 appearances. A year later, he joined Accrington after a successful trial, becoming a key figure with 18 goals in 80 games across three seasons.
Nolan brings pedigree and creativity
Gillingham moved to secure his services in June 2024, paying an undisclosed fee, and he featured 36 times during his first season at Priestfield. He marked his debut with a goal against Carlisle United, though he only found the net once across the campaign. With opportunities limited at the start of this term, both parties agreed to part ways, opening the door for Morecambe to step in.
Boss Ashvir Singh Johal expressed his delight at securing the winger’s signature, pointing to both his pedigree and versatility. Nolan has already attracted attention higher up the pyramid, but chose Morecambe as the right place to continue his career.
“I’m really pleased to have Jack here with us,” Johal said. “Since he left his previous club last week, he’s had a lot of interest from teams high in the pyramid, so for him to decide to join Morecambe is a real testament to what we are trying to build here.
“Jack is an exciting player who is definitely going to contribute to us scoring more goals. He is very mature, very intelligent and I think our fans will really enjoy watching him play.”
The Shrimps see Nolan as a player capable of providing both creativity and end product from wide areas, addressing an area Johal had been keen to bolster before the window closed. His arrival adds further depth to a squad looking to compete strongly in the National League this season, and his proven ability in the third tier suggests he can be a decisive figure at a lower level.
Writer’s View
This feels like a smart piece of business by Morecambe. Nolan is still only 24 but has already amassed significant Football League experience, including a productive spell at Accrington where he showed his eye for goal. Although his time at Gillingham was mixed, the winger’s technical ability and confidence in one-v-one situations make him a natural fit for Johal’s system.
For a club building steadily and aiming to climb the table, adding a player with Nolan’s qualities looks like an excellent move, and one that could pay dividends across the campaign.
