Ian Wright was born in Woolwich, London, to a family that faced numerous challenges. His father left when he was just 18 months old, leaving his mother to raise him and his siblings alone.

Wright began his professional football career at the age of 21 by signing with Greenwich Borough, a semi-professional team. His talent quickly caught the eye of scouts, leading to his transfer to Crystal Palace.

During his six years at Crystal Palace, Wright scored 117 goals in 277 appearances, becoming a fan favorite and the club's post-war record goalscorer. His impressive performance earned him a transfer to Arsenal in 1991.

Wright signed for Arsenal in September 1991 for a then-club record fee of £2.5 million. He scored on his debut against Leicester City in a League Cup tie and went on to win the Golden Boot in his first full season.

Wright became Arsenal's all-time leading goal scorer in 1997, surpassing Cliff Bastin's record of 178 goals. He helped Arsenal win the Premier League title in the 1997-98 season, two FA Cups, and a League Cup.

After leaving Arsenal, Wright played for West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, Celtic, and Burnley before officially retiring in 2000.

Wright joined BBC Radio 5 to co-host 'The Wright & Bright Show' with former Crystal Palace teammate Mark Bright, marking the beginning of his media career.

Wright was voted into Crystal Palace's Centenary XI and named as their 'Player of The Century' in recognition of his contributions to the club.

Wright joined BT Sport as a studio analyst for their coverage of the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa League.

Wright appeared in the Amazon Original sports docuseries 'All or Nothing: Arsenal', which documented the club's 2021-22 season.

Wright announced he would boycott the next broadcast of 'Match of the Day' in solidarity with presenter Gary Lineker, who stepped back from his duties amid a row over comments criticizing the government's immigration policies.