He began his career in non-League football with Croydon and Sutton United before joining Fulham, and made his professional debut for Gillingham in League Two in 2010.
[10] Payne scored his first goal for Gillingham to conclude the 6–1 away win over Hereford United on 17 September 2011, nine minutes after coming on as a substitute for Frank Nouble.
[11] His only other goal for the Gills was on 22 November in an FA Cup first round replay at home to AFC Bournemouth, when he came on at half time for Chris Whelpdale and scored the 3–2 winner.
[13] On 27 January 2012, Payne signed for Aldershot Town of League Two for the rest of the season, having rescinded his Gillingham contract by mutual consent.
[14] However, days later Aldershot stated on their website that Payne had been sent out on loan to Sutton United in the Conference South until the end of the season, as manager Dean Holdsworth said that he needed to play regular football.
[19] He scored twice in 13 matches for the eventually relegated Fleet, and received two straight-red cards including one in the first half of a 2–0 loss at Luton Town on 18 April.
[24] He made his Championship debut on 6 August in a 4–2 opening day loss at Ipswich Town, playing the final 17 minutes in place of Tom Bradshaw.
He signed on loan for Shrewsbury Town in League One for the remainder of the season on 30 January 2017[26] and debuted five days later by starting in a 2–1 home win over Bury.
[31] He made his debut two days later, starting up front alongside fellow former Shrew Alex Rodman and scored a late equaliser in a 2–1 home loss to Accrington Stanley.
[36] Payne captained Tranmere in the EFL Trophy third round tie against Leicester City under-21, where he scored, but eventually lost the match 2–1.
[38] Five days later on his debut at home to Stevenage, he came on as a 64th-minute substitute for Ira Jackson Jr and scored an added-time equaliser, though the team still lost 2–1.
[49] During his first season at the club, he won the league's Golden Boot award having scored thirty-four goals in just thirty-six matches as his side were defeated in the play-offs.