Nicholson began his career with Cambridge City, before a successful 2014/15 season in the United Counties League with Eynesbury Rovers.

He joined Histon, then in the Southern League, in the summer of 2015 where he scored 16 goals in the space of four months.

He signed a contract with Peterborough United in 2015 and was loaned out to Nuneaton Town in August 2016 until the rest of the season and was called back by Posh in March 2017.

He joined Nuneaton on loan again for the 2017/18 season and in his two spells with Boro, he scored 21 goals in 51 games.

In January 2018, he was re-called from loan and joined Barnet permanently and was subsequently loaned out to Nuneaton`s league rivals Brackley Town in March 2018.

Darlington manager Tommy Wright told his club`s official website: “I am delighted to get my man. He’s a player I’ve been working on since January when his loan from Peterborough to Nuneaton came to an end but at the time he favoured a move to Barnet, then in League Two. He now links up with former Boro team-mates Reece Styche, Luke Trotman, Ben O’Hanlon and Mitchell Glover so he will settle in quickly. 

“Jordan adds goals, he is also a creator and his work ethic matches that of the group.  He will be a fans favourite with his style of play and I can’t wait to integrate him into the group”.