Nottingham Forest have finalized the acquisition of Liam Delap from Chelsea, securing the attacker on a five-year deal at the City Ground.
Following his move from Ipswich, the 23-year-old featured 47 times across all competitions for Chelsea during the 2025/26 campaign. Among his five outings in Europe’s elite tournament, he registered his maiden Champions League goal during a 3-0 triumph against Barcelona.
Prior to that, Delap experienced a standout 2024/25 season at Ipswich, netting 12 times in the Premier League to help guide the Tractor Boys back to the division. His impressive contributions were recognized with a clean sweep of individual accolades, including the Players’ Player, Young Player, and Fans’ Player of the Year awards.
The center-forward came through the ranks at Manchester City, making his first-team bow at 17, which was followed by temporary stints at Stoke City and Hull City. He eventually made a permanent switch to Ipswich in 2024.
Allocated the number 19 jersey for Forest, Delap expressed his enthusiasm about playing under the leadership of the manager and voiced his conviction that he can aid the squad in competing near the summit of the Premier League.
“I am genuinely eager to begin; this is an incredibly prestigious club boasting a rich heritage,” Delap stated. “My goal is to contribute plenty of goals to the team.”
George Syrianos, the chief football officer at Forest, hailed the young attacker as an “exceptional talent” and revealed that the club’s scouting department had been keeping tabs on him for an extended period.
This transfer marks the next phase of Delap’s progression as he strives to cement his reputation as one of the Premier League’s top goalscorers.
