Headline: Nottingham Forest to Secure Chelsea Striker Liam Delap in Club-Record Deal
Nottingham Forest has reached an agreement to sign Chelsea striker Liam Delap for a club-record fee of approximately £50 million. The 23-year-old is set to undergo a medical examination and finalize a long-term contract at the City Ground within the week.
Delap’s transfer follows a year after he made the move to Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30 million, amidst interest from both Manchester United and Everton. However, Chelsea has opted to sell him this summer after Delap managed to score only one Premier League goal during a previous season hampered by shoulder and hamstring injuries.
In addition to Delap, Forest has already procured defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting for £34 million, as well as free agents Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager and goalkeeper Steve Benda. The club recently sold England midfielder Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for a record £116 million and striker Taiwo Awoniyi to Coventry City for £9 million.
The addition of Delap aims to boost competition among strikers Chris Wood and Igor Jesus, particularly after the duo failed to find the net in Forest’s recent 1-0 loss to Leeds in their Premier League opener.
On the other side, Chelsea has strengthened its squad by signing two strikers this summer: Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg and Danny Welbeck from Brighton.
Delap began his career in Derby County’s youth system before moving to Manchester City in 2019. He contributed to City’s victory in the FA Youth Cup during the 2019-20 season and achieved an impressive record of 24 goals in 20 Premier League 2 matches during the 2020-21 season.
He first appeared in a senior match for City in September 2020, scoring during a League Cup win against Bournemouth, and then made his Premier League debut shortly afterward against Leicester City. Injuries, however, limited his opportunities, leading him to spend time on loan at Stoke, Preston North End, and Hull City between 2022 and 2024. In the summer of 2024, Delap transferred from City to Ipswich for £20 million, where he netted 12 goals in 37 Premier League matches for the newly promoted team.
Nottingham Forest have agreed a club-record fee worth around £50m to sign Chelsea striker Liam Delap.
The 23-year-old is expected to undergo a medical and sign a long-term contract at the City Ground this week.
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Delap’s move comes a year after he joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30m amid competition from Manchester United and Everton.
However, Chelsea made him available for sale this summer after he scored just one Premier League goal in a previous campaign disrupted by shoulder and hamstring injuries.
Forest have already signed defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting for £34m, alongside free agents, Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager and goalkeeper Steve Benda.
They sold England midfielder Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for a club-record £116m and striker Taiwo Awoniyi to Coventry City for £9m.
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Delap’s arrival would provide competition for strikers Chris Wood and Igor Jesus, who failed to find the target in Forest’s 1-0 defeat by Leeds in their home Premier League opener on Saturday.
Chelsea have also signed two strikers this summer in Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg and Danny Welbeck from Brighton.
Delap came up through Derby County’s youth system before joining Manchester City in 2019.
After helping City win the FA Youth Cup in the 2019-20 campaign, he scored 24 goals in 20 Premier League 2 matches in 2020-21 as they won the title.
In September 2020 the striker scored on his senior City debut in a 2-1 League Cup win against Bournemouth, and three days later made his Premier League debut in a 5-2 defeat by Leicester.
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Injuries played a part in limiting further first-team opportunities, and between 2022 and 2024 Delap spent time on loan in the Championship with Stoke, Preston North End and Hull City.
In the summer of 2024 he was sold for £20m by City to Ipswich and scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League games for the newly promoted side.
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