Wilson left his home town of Aghagallon in 2000 to join the Manchester United Academy, after four years he was released and was signed by Hampshire club Portsmouth.

Wilson got his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for their game against Brazil in March 2010, and made his first appearance as a substitute in February 2011 during the 3–0 Nations Cup win over Wales.

[3] Wilson decided to concentrate on his football with Lisburn Youth and earned a place in Manchester United's centre of excellence.

He made his Pompey debut coming on as a substitute for Richard Hughes in a 4–0 League Cup 3rd round loss to Chelsea on 24 September 2008.

[10] On 5 August 2009, it was revealed that Wilson had been involved in an alleged bust-up with fellow team-mate David Nugent during Portsmouth's pre-season trip to Portugal.

[12] Though his performances as a central defender earned him criticism, he impressed after returning to his natural position of centre midfield towards the end of the season.

However manager Steve Cotterill revealed that Wilson was close to a transfer to Premier League side Stoke City.

[15][16] Wilson signed for Stoke City on 31 August 2010 player-plus-cash exchange deal which saw Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson move in the opposite direction to Football League Championship club Portsmouth.

[35] Following the signings of Erik Pieters and Marc Muniesa, assistant manager Mark Bowen stated that Wilson could revert to a midfield position in 2013–14.

[36] As expected Wilson began the season in a centre midfield spot and he stated that he is enjoying the change in style under Hughes.

[37] He failed to hold down a regular place in midfield and after spending a few months on the bench he returned to the starting line-up in December 2013, playing at centre-back after injury to Robert Huth.

[38] Wilson continued to play alongside Ryan Shawcross in centre of defence until the end of the 2013–14 season as Stoke finished in 9th position.

[41] On 30 January 2016 Wilson suffered a knee injury in a FA Cup match against Crystal Palace ruling him out for up-to six months.

[43] Prior to the start of the 2016–17 season, Wilson cast doubt over his future at Stoke after he criticised manager Mark Hughes on social media.

[47] After being a peripheral figure at Dean Court, Wilson re-joined Tony Pulis at West Bromwich Albion on 31 January 2017 on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 season.

[54] In April 2021, Wilson joined Icelandic side Þróttur Vogum as player-coach where his former Portsmouth teammate Hermann Hreiðarsson was manager.

[66][67] On 16 October 2012, he scored his first international goal in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in a 4–1 away win against the Faroe Islands with an impressive 25-yard shot with his right foot.

[72] On 23 May 2016, Martin O'Neill announced that Wilson, who was named in the Republic of Ireland's initial 35-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016, had been ruled out of the campaign through injury.