{{short description|English footballer (born 1992)}} {{For|those of a similar name|Lee Nichols (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Lee Nicholls | image = Lee Nicholls 06042026 (2).jpg | caption = Nicholls in 2026 | full_name = Lee Anthony Nicholls<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/pages-from-fl-professional-retain-list-free-transfers-2014-15-2.pdf-...549-2491536.pdf |title=The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015 |publisher=The Football League |page=36 |date=16 May 2015 |accessdate=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053003/http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/pages-from-fl-professional-retain-list-free-transfers-2014-15-2.pdf-...549-2491536.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1992|10|5}} | birth_place = Huyton, England | height = {{height|ft=6|in=5}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Lee Nicholls |url=https://www.htafc.com/matches/first-team/goalkeeper/lee-nicholls/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |publisher=Huddersfield Town A.F.C.}}</ref> | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = Huddersfield Town | clubnumber = 22 | youthyears1 = 2009–2010 | youthclubs1 = Wigan Athletic | years1 = 2010–2016 | clubs1 = Wigan Athletic | caps1 = 9 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2010 | clubs2 = → Hartlepool United (loan) | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2011 | clubs3 = → Shrewsbury Town (loan) | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2011 | clubs4 = → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2012 | clubs5 = → Accrington Stanley (loan) | caps5 = 9 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2012–2013 | clubs6 = → Northampton Town (loan) | caps6 = 46 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2015–2016 | clubs7 = → Bristol Rovers (loan) | caps7 = 15 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2016–2021 | clubs8 = Milton Keynes Dons | caps8 = 131 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2021– | clubs9 = Huddersfield Town | caps9 = 152 | goals9 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2011 | nationalteam1 = England U19 | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | medaltemplates = | club-update = 31 January 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 23:59, 8 February 2011 (UTC) }} '''Lee Anthony Nicholls''' (born 5 October 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for {{English football updater|HuddersT}} club Huddersfield Town.
==Early life== Lee Nicholls was born in Huyton, Merseyside.
==Club career== ===Wigan Athletic=== Nicholls signed scholarship forms with Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2009. After a series of impressive performances for the reserve team, he appeared for the first-team as a substitute for the first time on 2 January 2010 in a 4–1 FA Cup third round victory over Hull City.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/07/28/on-the-bench-with-lee-nicholls-a-keeper-tipped-for-the-top/ | title=On the Bench ... With Lee Nicholls, a Keeper Tipped for the Top at Wigan | publisher=FanHouse UK | date=28 July 2010 | accessdate=7 February 2011 | archive-date=30 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230230528/https://www.aol.co.uk/sport/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
Later in the month, he signed a two-and-a-half-year professional contract with the club.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~1946224,00.html | title=Keeper earns his stripes | date=27 January 2010 | accessdate=7 February 2011}}</ref> In January 2012, Nicholls extended his contract at Wigan until 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~2586321,00.html | title=New Deal For Lee Nicholls | publisher=Wigan Athletic F.C. | date=23 January 2012 | accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref> In between loan spells, Nicholls made his league debut on 27 October 2013 in a goalless draw away to Charlton Athletic.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24599701 |title=Charlton Athletic 0-0 Wigan Athletic |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 October 2013 |accessdate=28 July 2017 }}</ref>
====Loan spells==== Between November 2010 and May 2011, Nicholls was sent out on loan to Hartlepool United, Shrewsbury Town and Sheffield Wednesday, but failed to make a single appearance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=53114 |title=Lee Nicholls |publisher=Soccerbase |accessdate=28 July 2017 }}</ref> On 24 February 2012, he joined Accrington Stanley on an initial one-month loan deal. Nicholls later made nine appearances for the club.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/9552569.Goalkeeper_Nicholls_joins_Accrington_Stanley_on_loan/ |title=Goalkeeper Nicholls joins Accrington Stanley on loan |work=Lancashire Telegraph|date=24 February 2012 |accessdate=28 July 2017 }}</ref>
On 6 August 2012, Nicholls signed on loan for League Two side Northampton Town until the end of October 2012, and later re-signed on 6 November 2012 until the end of the 2012–13 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20220399 |title=Northampton Town sign keeper Lee Nicholls for season |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 November 2012 |accessdate=28 July 2017 }}</ref>
On 5 May 2013, Nicholls competed for Northampton Town in the League Two play-off semi-final second leg against Cheltenham Town. In total, Nicholls made 51 appearances for Northampton Town, achieving 20 clean sheets before returning to Wigan.<ref>{{Soccerbase season|53114|2012|name=Lee Nicholls|access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref> On 11 September 2015, Nicholls joined League Two side Bristol Rovers on a three-month loan.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34208351| title=Lee Nicholls: Bristol Rovers sign Wigan Athletic keeper on loan| publisher=BBC Sport| date=11 September 2015 | access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Soccerbase season|53114|2015|name=Lee Nicholls|access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref>
===Milton Keynes Dons F.C=== On 3 August 2016, following the expiry of his contract with Wigan, Nicholls joined League One club Milton Keynes Dons, signing a two-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mkdons.com/news/article/2016-17/dons-grab-goalie-nicholls-mk-dons-mk-dons-lee-nicholls-lee-nicholls-mk-dons-signing-mk-dons-transfer-3222761.aspx |title=Dons grab goalkeepr Nicholls |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons Official Site |date=3 August 2016 |accessdate=4 October 2016}}</ref> Nicholls made his debut for the club on 9 August 2016, featuring in a 2–3 EFL Cup first round victory over Newport County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mkdons.com/news/article/2016-17/report-newport-county-2-3-dons-3236915.aspx |title=Report: Newport County 2-3 Dons|publisher=Milton Keynes Dons Official Site |date=9 August 2016 |accessdate=4 October 2016}}</ref> In his first season for the club, Nicholls' made a total of sixteen appearances in all competitions, achieving two clean sheets.<ref>{{Soccerbase season|53114|2016|name=Lee Nicholls|access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref>
Following the departure of first choice goalkeeper David Martin, Nicholls took over the number one shirt for the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2017/july/mk-dons-201718-squad-numbers-revealed/ |title=MK Dons 2017/18 squad numbers revealed |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=21 July 2017 |accessdate=28 July 2017 }}</ref> On 29 December 2017, Nicholls signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until June 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2017/december/nicholls-commits-future-to-the-dons |title=Nicholls commits future to the Dons |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=29 December 2017 |accessdate=29 December 2017 }}</ref> On 6 May 2021, the club announced Nicholls was one of four players to be released at the end of the 2020–21 season, ending his almost five-year association with MK Dons in which he made over 150 appearances.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2021/may/quartet-set-to-depart/ |title=Quartet set to depart |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=6 May 2021 |accessdate=15 May 2021 }}</ref>
===Huddersfield Town=== On 26 May 2021, Nicholls signed for EFL Championship club Huddersfield Town on a two-year deal following the expiry of his contract with Milton Keynes Dons on 1 July 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/may/signing-lee-nicholls-agrees-to-join-town/ |title=Signing: Lee Nicholls agrees to join Town! |publisher=Huddersfield Town |date=26 May 2021 |access-date=14 July 2022 }}</ref> He made his debut on 1 August 2021, keeping a clean sheet in a goalless EFL Cup first round draw with Sheffield Wednesday, with Huddersfield progressing to the next round following Nicholls' two penalty shoot-out saves.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57958673 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Huddersfield Town: Terriers through after EFL Cup penalties |publisher=BBC |date=1 August 2021 |access-date=14 July 2022 }}</ref>
He went on to have a successful debut season with the club, achieving 19 clean sheets and playing a key role in Huddersfield reaching the 2022 EFL Championship play-off final.<ref name=sb2122 /> Nicholls was later named in both the EFL Championship Team of the Season<ref name="EFLTOTS2122" /> and Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year.<ref name="PFATOTY2122" />
==International career== In 2010, Nicholls was named in the England U19 squad that reached the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-19 Championships,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~2093160,00.html |title = Nicholls makes England cut |date = 15 July 2010 |accessdate = 7 February 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100719005113/http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~2093160,00.html |archive-date = 19 July 2010 |url-status = dead }}</ref> but did not make an appearance in the tournament. He made his debut for the team in February 2011 in a 1–0 defeat against Germany.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u19s/News/Match%20Centre/2011/England%20v%20Germany/england-germany-080211 | publisher=The Football Association | title=Denis proves England's menace | date=8 February 2011 | accessdate=8 February 2011}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|1 November 2025}}
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=7|Wigan Athletic |2010–11<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2010/2011">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2010|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |2011–12<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2011/2012">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2011|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |2012–13<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2012/2013">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2012|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |2013–14<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2013/2014">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2013|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref> |Championship |6||0||0||0||1||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=EUL>Appearances in UEFA Europa League.</ref>||0||9||0 |- |2014–15<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2014/2015">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2014|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref> |Championship |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- |2015–16<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2015/2016">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2015|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref> |League One |2||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||2||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !9!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!2!!0!!12!!0 |- |Hartlepool United (loan) |2010–11<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2010/2011" /> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |Shrewsbury Town (loan) |2010–11<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2010/2011" /> |League Two |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |Sheffield Wednesday (loan) |2010–11<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2010/2011" /> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |Accrington Stanley (loan) |2011–12<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2011/2012" /> |League Two |9||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||9||0 |- |Northampton Town (loan) |2012–13<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2012/2013" /> |League Two |46||0||0||0||0||0||5<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT>Appearances in Football League Trophy.</ref><ref group=lower-alpha name=PLO>Three appearances in Football League Two play-offs.</ref>||0||51||0 |- |Bristol Rovers (loan) |2015–16<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2015/2016" /> |League Two |15||0||1||0||0||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT />||0||18||0 |- |rowspan=6|Milton Keynes Dons |2016–17<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2016/2017">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2016|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref> |League One |8||0||2||0||2||0||4<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT />||0||16||0 |- |2017–18<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2017/2018">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2017|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref> |League One |41||0||4||0||1||0||0||0||46||0 |- |2018–19<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2018/2019">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2018|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref> |League Two |40||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||43||0 |- |2019–20<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2019/2020">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2019|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=10 June 2019}}</ref> |League One |35||0||1||0||1||0||1||0||38||0 |- |2020–21<ref name="Games played by Lee Nicholls in 2020/2021">{{Soccerbase season|53114|2020|name=Lee Nicholls|accessdate=23 July 2020}}</ref> |League One |7||0||3||0||1||0||3||0||14||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !131!!0!!11!!0!!7!!0!!8!!0!!157!!0 |- | rowspan="6" |Huddersfield Town |2021–22<ref name=sb2122>{{soccerbase season|53114|2021|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> |Championship |43||0||0||0||2||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name=PLO22>Three appearances in EFL Championship play-offs.</ref>||0||48||0 |- |2022–23<ref name=sb2223>{{soccerbase season|53114|2022|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> |Championship |28||0||0||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||29||0 |- |2023–24<ref name=sb2324>{{soccerbase season|53114|2023|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> |Championship |37||0||1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||38||0 |- |2024–25<ref name=sb2425>{{soccerbase season|53114|2024|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> |League One |23||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||23||0 |- |2025–26<ref>{{soccerbase season|53114|2025|access-date=20 November 2025}}</ref> |League One |8||0||1||0||3||0||1||0||13||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !139!!0!!2!!0!!6!!0!!4!!0!!151!!0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !349!!0!!14!!0!!14!!0!!21!!0!!398!!0 |}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== '''Bristol Rovers''' *Football League Two third-place promotion: 2015–16<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017 |year=2016 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-3395-0 |pages=90–91}}</ref>
'''Milton Keynes Dons''' *EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2018–19<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1646 |title=League Two: 2018/19: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=6 May 2019}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=stats&season_id=151 |title=MK Dons: Squad details: 2018/19 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=6 May 2019}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *Huddersfield Town: Hargreaves Memorial Trophy (Player of the Season) 2021–22 *Huddersfield Town: Blue & White Player of the Season 2021–22 *EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2021–22<ref name="EFLTOTS2122">{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2022/april/football-manager-efl-team-of-the-season-line-ups-announced/|title=Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced|website=efl.com|date=24 April 2022|accessdate=25 April 2022}}</ref> *PFA Team of the Year: 2021–22 Championship<ref name="PFATOTY2122">{{cite web |url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2022/6/9/pfa-awards-22-championship-toty |title=PFA Championship Team of the Year |publisher=Professional Footballers' Association |date=9 June 2022 |access-date=14 July 2022 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *[http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/N/lee-nicholls Profile] at TheFA.com
{{Huddersfield Town A.F.C. squad}} {{Navboxes | title = Awards | bg = gold | fg = navy | list1 = {{2021–22 EFL Championship PFA Team of the Year}} {{2021–22 EFL Championship Team of the Season}} {{Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Player of the Year}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholls, Lee}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Huyton Category:English men's footballers Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Wigan Athletic F.C. players Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. players Category:Northampton Town F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players Category:21st-century English sportsmen