Chelsea signs Delap from Ipswich in £30m deal
Chelsea has seen off competition from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton to bring in Liam Delap in a £30million transfer.
Chelsea has seen off competition from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton to bring in Liam Delap in a £30million transfer.
The Tractor Boys' demotion back to the Championship, after just a single season in the top flight, saw a release clause in Delap's contract become active.
Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton were strongly linked with a move for the 22 year-old, who scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League appearances in 2024-2025 after joining Ipswich from Manchester City last year.
However, Delap was reportedly keen to play in the Champions League with Chelsea, which secured a top-five Premier League finish with a final-day victory over Nottingham Forest.
The Blues, who beat Real Betis in the Conference League final, have handed Delap a six-year contract and will pay £20m of his transfer fee up front.
"Growing up watching this club, I understand the stature of it and how incredible it has been over the years," he said.
"I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that.
"The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective."
Reflecting on his time with Ipswich, the City academy graduate said: "The most important thing for me last summer was going somewhere where I could play a lot of minutes.
"That was the opportunity I felt I needed, to go and express myself and show the player I am. Ipswich gave me that opportunity, which was so important, and I'm very grateful for that."
Delap competed in more duels than any other central striker (413) in the Premier League last season, registering more shot-ending carries than any other player in his position (26).
Delap's Chelsea debut could come at the Club World Cup, with the Blues drawn to face Los Angeles FC, Flamengo and ES Tunis in Group D.
The striker had been named in Lee Carsley's England squad for the Under-21 Euros in Slovakia, but it is now thought he will link up with his new club in the United States.
