Chelsea Secure Young Talent Liam Delap in £30m Move from Ipswich

Chelsea have completed the signing of striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30 million. The 22-year-old joins the Blues on a six-year contract after a release clause in his Ipswich deal was triggered, following the club’s relegation from the Premier League.

Delap attracted interest from multiple Premier League teams including Manchester United and Newcastle, but Chelsea, under new manager Enzo Maresca, moved swiftly to secure his services. Ipswich will receive £20 million upfront and have also negotiated a future sell-on clause as part of the deal.

A product of Manchester City’s academy, Delap made his Premier League debut with City and later went on loan spells to clubs like Stoke, Preston, and Hull. He joined Ipswich in 2024, scoring 12 goals in 37 top-flight appearances, quickly becoming one of the league’s standout young strikers.

Delap expressed gratitude for his time at Ipswich, praising boss Kieran McKenna and the club’s fans. He described Portman Road as an ideal place to develop and gain top-flight experience. Despite his limited appearances at Manchester City, Ipswich gave him the platform to perform regularly in the Premier League.

Chelsea’s attacking options struggled last season, with midfielder Cole Palmer emerging as the top scorer. The club lacked a reliable striker, as Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku delivered inconsistent results, and teenager Marc Guiu didn’t register a goal in his limited appearances.

As Chelsea gear up for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, Delap is likely to miss the U21 Euros. Meanwhile, the Blues are continuing talks with AC Milan for goalkeeper Mike Maignan and are considering a move for Borussia Dortmund’s young winger Jamie Gittens as their squad rebuild intensifies.