Chelsea have completed the signing of 22-year-old striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, with the forward putting pen to paper on a contract that runs until 2031.
The England U-21 international has signed a six-year contract that keeps him at Stamford Bridge until 2031.
Delap finished his debut season in the Premier League with 14 goals and assists in 37 appearances for Ipswich Town and stood out as a key player in a struggling Ipswich side that suffered immediate relegation back to the Championship.
Despite interest from other Premier League teams like Manchester United and Everton, both said to have been ready to trigger his release clause, Chelsea beat off competition to secure the former Manchester City forward.
The signing is a major boost for Enzo Maresca’s squad ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S., where Chelsea are set to face Flamengo, LAFC, and ES Tunis in the group stages starting June 14.
“I understand the stature of this club and the direction it’s going in with these players and the head coach,” Delap said in his first interview as a Blue. “It’s the perfect place for me to develop and hopefully win trophies.”
The Blues return to the Champions League next season after finishing fourth in the Premier League and closing the campaign with a dominant 4–1 win over Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final, a bright ending to Maresca’s debut year in charge.
Delap arrives at a time when Chelsea are actively reshaping their frontline. Nicolas Jackson netted 10 league goals last season, while Christopher Nkunku is widely expected to leave after a disappointing spell at the club.
The young striker is the son of former Stoke midfielder Rory Delap, who came through the ranks at Manchester City but struggled to break into Pep Guardiola’s senior squad.
After loans at Stoke, Preston, and Hull, he joined Ipswich last summer in a deal worth up to £20 million following their promotion to the top flight.
Now, with a big move to west London secured, Delap will be hoping to make his mark on the big stage and help Chelsea compete for silverware at home and abroad.
