A product of the Arsenal Academy, he left in 2000 and signed with Coventry City, spending three years with the Sky Blues and becoming the club's top-scorer with 11 goals during the 2002–2003 season. His form attracted attention from Serie A's Perugia, and he signed with the club in 2003. He later returned to England and played for Blackburn Rovers, Charlton Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City, Cardiff City, Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday. In 2014, Bothroyd began playing in Asia, first in Thailand for Muangthong United, and later in Japan for Júbilo Iwata and Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. He has also played for the England national team, earning his first and to date only cap in 2010.