Chelsea has finalized the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich on a six-year deal.

Chelsea have officially announced the signing of forward Liam Delap from relegated Ipswich Town on a six-year contract.

The young striker had attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle United, as well as Serie A giants AC Milan and Juventus. However, Delap made it clear that his preference was to join Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.

Despite Ipswich’s struggles throughout the season, which saw them rooted to the bottom of the table and ultimately relegated, Delap stood out by scoring 12 league goals for the beleaguered side.

“I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach,” Delap stated on Chelsea’s official website. “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.”

Delap made the move to Ipswich from Manchester City in July 2024 for an initial fee of £15 million following their promotion to the Premier League.

The forward comes from a footballing family; his father, Rory, earned 11 caps for the Republic of Ireland. While Delap has represented England at youth level, he remains eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland.

He has drawn comparisons to a “young Alan Shearer,” and former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole expressed confidence in Delap’s potential, stating he would be “stunned if he isn’t at Chelsea.”

Chelsea concluded their first season under Maresca on a high note, securing UEFA Champions League football with a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League and lifting the UEFA Conference League trophy with a resounding 4-1 victory over Real Betis.