Chelsea have won the race to sign highly-rated England Under-21 striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town in a £30m deal, beating off stiff competition from several Premier League rivals including Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
Delap, 22, was one of the most sought-after young strikers on the market following Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League, which triggered a £30m release clause in his contract. Though Manchester City had included a buy-back clause when they sold him to Ipswich for £20m last summer, they opted not to activate it.
Chelsea’s successful pursuit was built on a compelling pitch: Champions League football, the youngest squad in the league, and the chance to reunite with several former Manchester City academy teammates, including Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, and Jadon Sancho. The final-day victory over Nottingham Forest that secured fourth place and a Champions League spot proved a decisive moment in the negotiations.
Sources close to the deal confirmed Delap had been leaning toward Chelsea in the final stages. He was granted permission to speak to interested clubs earlier in May and was spotted flying out of Stansted Airport ahead of his medical. The deal was made official shortly after, with Delap now expected to join Chelsea’s pre-season preparations and feature in the Club World Cup this summer.
Chelsea had long identified Delap as a priority signing. Co-owner Behdad Eghbali met with Delap’s agent, David Manasseh, in Dubai, and even expressed admiration for the striker during a fan event in Wroclaw before Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League final. New head coach Enzo Maresca, who previously worked with Delap at Manchester City’s elite development squad, played a key role by pitching directly to the player in face-to-face talks.
Chelsea’s recruitment team – including key figure Joe Shields and academy director Glenn van der Kraan – were also instrumental in building trust with the Delap camp. Familiarity and continuity were major factors, as Delap had been in contact with several current Chelsea players who came through the same system at City.
What Delap decision mean
The striker’s decision to join Chelsea means he will likely miss this summer’s European Under-21 Championship to prepare for the Club World Cup. But the move is viewed as a major step forward in his career, providing him with top-level European football and a platform to develop further.
Meanwhile, Manchester United – seen as Chelsea’s primary competitors for Delap’s signature – have now shifted their focus elsewhere. Delap was viewed as a perfect fit for their transfer strategy: young, hungry, and with high potential. Losing out will be a blow, but United are determined to avoid the type of drawn-out saga that hindered them in past windows, such as the failed pursuit of Frenkie de Jong in 2022.
United now face renewed pressure to solve their striking conundrum. Rasmus Hojlund’s underwhelming form and the lack of clear internal solutions could force them to explore expensive or risky alternatives. Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta are options, though both come with caveats, including age and tournament absences.
Elsewhere, Everton and Newcastle were also in the mix, with Everton’s manager David Moyes making a personal pitch before they clashed with Ipswich. Delap was warmly greeted by Toffees fans, some of whom encouraged him to join during a visit to the fan-famous house at 37 Goodison Road. Despite the charm offensive, the Merseyside club understood they were long shots.
Ultimately, Chelsea’s combination of ambition, personal connections, and Champions League football proved irresistible for one of England’s most promising forwards.
