Jarvis began his professional career with Gillingham, making his Football League debut for the Kent-based club at the age of 17.

[1] His parents, Nicky and Linda, both played table tennis professionally and each reached number one in the sport's British rankings.

[6] On 4 November 2003, at the age of 17, he made his Football League debut in a match against Sunderland when a number of senior players were missing due to influenza.

[9] In the 2004–05 season Jarvis became a regular in the Gillingham first team, playing in 30 Football League matches, although he was out of action for five weeks in January and February after undergoing an operation on a hernia.

[14] Jarvis rejected the contract offer, but later claimed via his agent that he would be happy to remain at Priestfield Stadium if the club "demonstrated that it could match his ambitions".

[27] After a strong start to the following season for both club and player, Jarvis injured his hamstring in the defeat to Reading on 30 September 2008 and was expected to be out of action for approximately six weeks.

[28] He made his return in the 1–0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers on 6 December, and remained a first choice player as the club won promotion to the Premier League as champions.

[29] He made his Premier League debut against West Ham United in August 2009 and played regularly during the 2009–10 season, scoring three times to help them achieve top flight survival.

[33] Jarvis submitted a transfer request on 11 August 2012, after media reports linked West Ham United with the player.

[36] On 24 August 2012, Jarvis signed a five-year contract, with the option for an additional year, for a transfer fee which was a club record but was officially undisclosed.

[41] On 24 December 2015, Jarvis signed a permanent contract with Norwich, to take effect in the January transfer window, for a reported fee of £2.5 million.

[51] Jarvis was called up to the England national team in March 2011 for matches against Wales (a Euro 2012 qualifier) and Ghana (an international friendly).

[52] After not being selected for the matchday squad against Wales, he made his debut as a substitute against Ghana at Wembley Stadium on 29 March, coming on for Jack Wilshere in the 70th minute of a 1–1 draw.