Scottish attacking midfielder Steven Naismith signed for Norwich from Everton on 19th January 2016 on a three and a half year deal, costing the Canaries a speculated £8million.

After playing for local boys club team Stewarton Annick and spending time with Rangers' youth set-up, Naismith signed for  Kilmarnock's youth team before signing professionally in August 2002. He made his senior debut in the 2003–04 season as a substitute against Hibernian on 24th April 2004. He scored his first senior goal for the club in a 2–2 draw with Heart of Midlothian in February 2005

In the 2005–06 season his performances won him the SPL Young Player of the Month award in August  and January and the SPL Player of the Month award in March of the 2005–06 season. He went on to win the Scottish Football Writers'Young Player of the Year award, after scoring twelve goals during the season. He scored his first professional hat-trick in a 3–0 Scottish League Cup semi-final victory over Falkirk He won the SPL Young Player of the Month award in March 2007, and then the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Yearaward for the 2006–07 season. He played 115 games for Kilmarnock, scoring 35 goals.

He joined Rangers on 31st August 2007 for £1.2million. He played 140 games for Rangers, scoring 33 goals and won the Scottish Premier League three times, the Scottish Cup once and the Scottish League Cup twice.

In June 2012, Naismith lodged an objection against his contract being transferred to the new Rangers company. PFA Scotland had previously commented that players were entitled to become free agents if they objected to the transfer. he signed a four year deal with Everton on 4th July 2012. He made his debut for the Toffees as an 89th-minute substitute during Everton's first match of the season, a 1–0 league victory over Manchester United. and scored his first competitive goal for Everton on 28th October in a derby against Liverpool. He made 123 appearances, scoring 25 goals prior to his transfer to Norwich.

Naismith is an ambassador for Dyslexia Scotland, launched a scheme to help ease the progress of injured ex-service personnel back into work, and supports centres for the homeless in Glasgow and Liverpool.

Naismith scored on his debut for the Scotland national under-21 football team, in a 4–0 victory against Iceland U21s in March 2006 and won a total of 15 caps. His full international debut came against the Faroe Islands in June 2007. Naismith scored his first goal for Scotland in the 3–2 loss to Spain at Hampden Park on 12th October 2010, in the Euro 2012 qualifiers

He made his Norwich debut on 23rd January 2016 in the 5-4 home defeat to Liverpool, scoring Norwich's second and winning a penalty that was converted by Wes Hoolahan. He made 11 appearances for City in 2015/16, scoring once, as the Canaries were relegated from the Premier League.

In May 2017, it was speculated that he would be allowed to leave Norwich on a free transfer so to cut the club's wage bill as he was reportedly earning £50,000 per week. Rangers were quickly linked by the Scottish Daily Express. Naismith had made 32 appearances for Norwich in 2016/17 scoring seven goals. At the end of December 2017, he was linked with a move to Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. In the end he signed for Hearts on 18th January 2018 until the end of the 2017/18 season. he scored four goals in 16 appearances.

On 6th July 2018, he was loaned by City to Hearts again, this time for the 2018/19 season.

Naismith was released by Norwich on 21st May 2019 following City's promotion to the Premier League.

On 1st August 2019, Naismith signed a four year contract with Hearts. He had scored 18 goals in 48 appearances over two loan stints at Hearts and earning a recall to the national squad. Hearts won promotion back to the Premiership on 10th April 2021.

On 16th June 2021 Naismith announced his retirement at the age of 34 although many Norwich fans thought he retired when he joined the Canaries. He will become Player Development Manager at Hearts. Over a 17-year club career, Naismith scored 134 goals in 517 appearances, with most of those coming at Kilmarnock.

On 20th February 2022 he was linked with the vacant managerial position at St Mirren with reports that Hearts gave permission for Naismith to be interviewed. Former Hearts and Scotland manager Craig Levein said "I would say yes, he is ready now, but that might depend on the staff he has to support him. He has got the credentials to become a really good manager.He would need to get the right person as assistant. As a young manager, it's like a landslide, it hits you all when you start. You just think it's about coaching and getting a team on the field, but there are so many facets that it's really overwhelming at times".

Naismith became Hearts' caretaker manager on 10th April 2023 following Robbie Neilson's sacking and will keep in the role until the end of the 2022/23 season. He will be assisted by Gordon Forrest and Frankie McAvoy. Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay said in a statement: "I am delighted to say that Steven Naismith has agreed to take over as interim manager until the end of the season. Steven has played the game at the highest level possible, and has taken great strides forward in his coaching career with the club’s B Team and at international level with Scotland." Hearts won two, lost two and drew three of Naismith's games in interim charge.They failed to retake third place from Aberdeen but finished above city rivals Hibernian to qualify for the Europa Conference League.

On 7th June 2023 Naismith was named as Hearts' technicl director because his lack of a Uefa Pro Licence means he cannot be appointed manager. He cannot begin to obtain the licence until next year, so Frank McAvoy has been named head coach.

Naismith is also part of Scotland boss Steve Clarke's backroom team