Liam Delap pens a special farewell message to Ipswich Town and speaks for the first time on signing for his new club Chelsea.
The 22 year old has joined Chelsea for £30 million, leaving Ipswich Town after their relegation from the Premier League.
He scored 12 goals in 37 league matches for Ipswich for the 2024/25 season, but chose Chelsea over offers from Manchester United, Newcastle, Everton, and Nottingham Forest, influenced by Champions League football, a reunion with manager Enzo Maresca from their Manchester City academy days, and the chance to play alongside Cole Palmer.
Delap’s move positions him for a potential debut at the Club World Cup against LAFC on June 16th, as Chelsea have requested he prioritise the tournament over England’s U21 European Championships.
It’s official. ✍️
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 4, 2025
STATEMENT:
Chelsea is delighted to announce the transfer of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, with the striker signing a contract until 2031.
An England Under-21 international, Delap struck 12 times in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign and was shortlisted for the Young Player of the Year award.
Delap started his career in Derby County’s academy before joining Manchester City in 2019. After a season with the club’s Under-18s, he stepped up to the Elite Development Squad, where he played under current Blues head coach Enzo Maresca.
The striker enjoyed a standout campaign. He netted 24 goals in 20 Premier League 2 matches, scored on his debut for City’s senior side in the League Cup, and was handed his first top-flight appearance against Leicester City.
Further first-team appearances followed during the 2021/22 season before he embarked on loan spells at Stoke City and Preston North End.
Delap spent the 2023/24 season with Hull City and, after scoring eight goals, secured a move to newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
The 22-year-old produced on the Premier League stage, with 12 goals struck for the Tractor Boys in 37 appearances.
Delap has also represented England throughout the youth age groups, with his last caps coming from the Under-21s in March.
Football has always been a part of Liam Delap’s life. Perhaps that is why little appears to faze the 22-year-old. He knows what the game demands; he understands the expectations. It’s why he feels ready for Chelsea.
The net in front of the Matthew Harding Stand ripples and Liam Delap instantly turns away, ready to receive the next ball. That one is dispatched, too. And another. And another. All the while, photographs are being taken and video is captured.
The technique is second nature to the striker, yet one powerful attempt crashes against the crossbar and bounces away. That miss is what Delap reflects upon after the shoot; it is a window into the uncompromising mindset of a player who struck 12 Premier League goals last season.
It is also a firm indication of the standards Delap sets for himself. He has not arrived at Chelsea by chance, it has taken years of hard work and dedication. The journey has been important.
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DELAP’S FIRST INTERVIEW:
‘I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach. It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.
‘It’s a lifetime of graft.
‘Since I was eight or nine years old, I was focused on football. I never wanted to do anything else, and I’ve given everything I could to make it happen.
‘It’s such a long and hard period and things can be tough for you, but I’ve always enjoyed it. I just love football; I’d be playing with my mates if I wasn’t a professional.
‘Fortunately, I’m alright at it – and I’m delighted that graft has worked out and I’m here now at Chelsea.’
Delap is accompanied throughout the shoot at Stamford Bridge by his mother, Helen, and father, Rory, who had a 20-plus-year playing career, which included 14 seasons in the Premier League with Derby County, Southampton, and Stoke City.
‘Some of my earliest football memories are watching him playing – and launching throw-ins – for Stoke at the Britannia!’ says Liam.
‘We tried to get to as many games as possible, and I had a great upbringing in that I was so close to it all.
‘It gave me that feeling of football early; it was incredible and something I wanted. But I knew it wouldn’t be easy, I had to work hard for it.
‘I owe both mum and dad so much. I’ve got a younger brother and sister, and while dad was playing, my mum was so important to balance us and make sure we got to where we are today.
‘I can’t repay them enough, but I’m sure they are very proud and that is what makes me happy.’
Liam Delap began his football career at Derby County’s academy, spending nearly a decade there before joining Manchester City in 2019, going on to play alongside Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer and was coached by Enzo Maresca in the 2020/21 season.
Delap’s 24 goals in 20 matches helped City win their first Premier League 2 title, and he made his senior debut, scoring in the League Cup against Bournemouth.
With limited senior opportunities due to competition from Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland, Delap gained experience on loan at Championship clubs Stoke City, Preston North End, and Hull City.
‘I had a few loans and I learned a lot from then,’ he said.
‘You are a mixture of all these different experiences, so I’ve taken little bits from everywhere I’ve been and then built it together as one. I’m always learning and developing.’
Lats summer, he permanently transferred from Manchester City to Ipswich Town, newly promoted to the Premier League.
He scored six goals in his first 11 Premier League games for Ipswich, and finished the season with five more goals.
Now at Chelsea, he has ample opportunities to prove himself, especially with the club’s return to the Champions League and their ongoing pursuit of trophies.
‘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.’
That is something the England Under-21 international is well aware of. He knows his history.
‘Growing up watching this club, I understand the stature of it and how incredible it has been over the years,’ he says.
‘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.’
📰 We can confirm striker Liam Delap has joined Chelsea for an undisclosed fee, becoming the club’s record sale.
Everyone at Ipswich Town wishes Liam well for the future.
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) June 4, 2025
Twelve goals and some brilliant moments.
Good luck with everything, Liam. 👊💙 pic.twitter.com/K862YasEl3
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) June 4, 2025
IPSWICH STATEMENT:
Liam Delap has completed a permanent transfer to Chelsea for an undisclosed fee.
The forward, who signed for Town from Manchester City last summer, scored a total of 12 goals in 36 Premier League games for the Club.
Liam opened his account for the Blues at home to Fulham last August and went on to score goals in wins over Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and AFC Bournemouth.
He earned the Club’s Player of the Month awards in both September and October, before being nominated for the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season at the end of the campaign.
Liam also collected several Club awards at the annual End of Season Dinner, including the Players’ Player of the Year.
We thank Liam for his efforts in a Town shirt and wish him the very best going forward.
DELAP’S FAREWELL TO IPSWICH:
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone at Ipswich Town for everything they have done for me during my time at the club,” Liam said.
“We didn’t achieve our ultimate goal, but the welcome I received and the ongoing support the Manager, his staff and the supporters gave the players meant it was the perfect environment for me to play regular Premier League football for the first time in my career.
“There is so much for the club to be excited about for the future and I’m confident it won’t be long until Ipswich Town is back in the Premier League again. I’ll be supporting from afar.
“I’ll never forget my time at the club. Thank you for everything.”
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Here’s how fans reacted as Liam Delap pens a farewell message to Ipswich and speaks on signing for Chelsea…
@joeshippers78: Just a stepping stone for him. Is it just me or does any one else have absolutely no care about him leaving? Was only ever with us to promote himself. #ITFC
@EzsySnipingg: Pretty fuming if I’m honest. I think he had so much more to give for us at this stage of his career. Maybe another season or till January. I would say but what a player he is, a fan always in me always mate. Thanks for the memories. “Liam delap ole ole”
@drealzikky: Thank you Ipswich, now I can forgive you for the 5 points you took from my club 💙
@JonSim3: Thank you for all your efforts Liam, good luck for the future and we look forward to next season at this fantastic football club…
@Cogniti40241567: Good luck Liam. Thank you for your efforts for Town. You are going straight to the top ✨💙🚜
@TomF1978: Classy from Liam. It’s in our interests as a club to be seen as a great place for young talents to learn their trade. We will be top of the list for biggest clubs and benefit on the pitch and financially too. As fans we have to be understanding though and accept its life. #itfc
@BigEdBanthorp: In a time where modern football has become full of clubs and players that don’t care about anything other than money, it’s been pleasing how maturely this has all been handled by McKenna, the club and Delap himself. Maybe that’s naivety at the top level but it’s nice to see
@TownrowMat72678: What a player! we knew it was coming I hope he does well. As for us let’s hope we can get a replacement in quickly and also sign Cajuste.
@gemmam1979: Good luck @liamdelap, I hope you’ll never forget the season that truly made you, its been a pleasure to watch you and hope to see you back watching Ipswich when you aren’t playing 💙🤍🚜 (PS. We’ll look after Slicks for you)
@altheobald: Be happy that it happened and sad it’s now over but he deserves all the best wishes, without him this season we stood even less of a chance. Go smash it at Chelsea 💙 🤍
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