Nicky Ajose signed for Exeter in July 2019 after being released by Charlton Athletic. After leaving City as a player Nicky returned to the club as  a coach and later took charge of the under-18s before moving on to work in women's football with Manchester City.  

Nicky began his career with Manchester United but never made an appearance in the first team and spent much of the 2010/11 season on loan at Bury. Whilst at Old Trafford he played for England under-16s and under-17s.

He joined Peterborough United in July 2011 for a reported £300,000 fee. In a three-year stay at London Road Nicky was in-and-out of the first-team and spent time on loan at Scunthorpe United, Chesterfield, Crawley Town, Bury and Swindon Town. He then signed for Leeds United in August 2014 for a fee in the region of £150,000. After just a few first-team games, and a loan period at Crewe, Nicky moved to Swindon where he enjoyed a hugely-successful 2015/16 season scoring twenty-four times in thirty-eight league games. 

His success in Wiltshire earned Nicky a transfer to Charlton Athletic in June 2016 for a reported £800,000 sum. Over three seasons at the Valley Nicky made infrequent appearances and returned to both Swindon and Bury on loan as well as Mansfield Town.

It was upon Nicky's release from Charlton that he signed for Exeter City in July 2019. He made his City debut in the opening game against Macclesfield and scored his first goal on 3 September 2019 against Cheltenham in the Football League Trophy. After returning from injury, Nicky's first league goal was at Port Vale on 28 January 2020. Nicky was to make thirteen league appearances (scoring two goals) in the COVID-19 truncated 2020/21 season and just four substitute appearances in 2021/22. Over the two seasons Nicky scored six goals in all competitions but only two in league games. He was released at the end of the 2020/2021 season. 

In September 2021 it was announced that Nicky was back with the club taking the first steps on his coaching career  and, by 2023/24, he was involved in managing the under-18 team. Remaining in post at the start of the following campaign, he left the club in October 2024 to take up a coaching position in the Women's Super League with Manchester City.