Republic of Ireland international winger Wes Hoolahan became Glenn Roeder's second signing of the 2008 pre-season when he transferred from Blackpool to Norwich on 26th June 2008, on a three year deal. Norwich had activated a get--out clause in Hoolahan's contract to sign him for £250,000. Norwich reserve team keeper, Matthew Gilks, moved in the opposite direction along with an undisclosed amount of money.

Hoolahan started his career at Shelbourne where he won three League of Ireland championships and excelled during their run in the Champions League qualifiers in the 2004-05 season. He was the PFAI Young Player of the Year in the 2002-03 season. He joined Scottish side Livingston but in July 2006, Hoolahan joined Blackpool on a season-long loan. This became a permanent transfer the following summer although Livingston denied agreeing to the deal and the transfer had to be approved by FIFA

Many Championship clubs invluding QPR and Charlton were linked with Hoolahan during the 2007/8 season but Norwich secured the deal seeking a replacement for Darren Huckerby.

Hoolahan, who had been capped at Under-21 level for Ireland, made his full international debut as a second half substitute in the 1–0 win over Colombia in May 2008

Following Norwich's relegation at the end of the 2008/9 season, Was was linked with a move to Crystal Palace. He remained at Carrow Road, and played an integral role in the Championship title win scoring 14 goals in 42 appearances.

On 8th January 2011, Hoolahan signed a new contract with City that would keep him at the club until 2014. In April 2011, he was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.

Norwich won a second promotion, moving up to the Premiership, on 2nd May 2011 with a 1-0 win at Portsmouth with Wes playing a key role (44 appearances, 10 goals) in the Canaries' promotion challenge.

Hoolahan scored Norwich's first goal in the 2011/12 Premier League campaign, equalising to give Norwich a 1-1 draw at Wigan on 13th August 2011. Impressive form in Norwich's opening start to the 2011/12 premier League season saw Hoolahan linked with a recall to the Irish squad, with Irish coach Marco Tardelli revealing that that Norwich City trio Wes Hoolahan, Anthony Pilkington and Marc Tierney are firmly on his international radar ahead of the Euro 2012 finals. The former World Cup winner, who was at Carrow Road to see the Canaries take on Arsenal, admitted he and Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni were weighing up all their options with regards to their final 23-man Euro2012 squad.