After netting 12 Premier League goals last season for Ipswich Town, England youth international striker Delap was highly-rated when he moved to Stamford Bridge for a reported £30m last summer.
Offering pace, power and plenty of goals in the final third, Delap’s addition was thought to offer something special in attack as the west Londoners looked to mount a title challenge and contend for silverware on the back of an impressive last season.
Unfortunately, though, it hasn’t really gone Delap’s way during his stay in west London as he’s been beset by fitness niggles, having picked up a hamstring injury during August’s Premier League fixture with the Fulham Dons last year.
Initially thought to be out of action for six-to-eight weeks, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca suggested Delap could be absent for 10-to-12 weeks meaning he could well be ruled out of action for matches in December, to Maresca’s dismay.
Delap’s absence has caused Maresca headaches with options up front with Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu his go-to strikers. He’ll have been hoping Delap will be available for December fixtures in order to have as many options as possible at his disposal. Delap has endured a long spell in the physio room and been frustrated at slow and stop-start recovery with fitness and condition an ongoing issue as he looked to get his legs back.
A hard-worker with talent in abundance, boasting athleticism, pace, power and goals, his time at Stamford Bridge was always going to be brief but it’s been a frustrating one for Delap. Now, a hefty reported £45m transfer to Nottingham Forest will offer Delap a fresh start in his career this summer in what will be a welcome escape from Chelsea after his ill-fortune thus far in west London.
Delap inked a five-year deal at Nottingham Forest, having only managed a handful of starts since arriving at Chelsea for a reported £30m in August 2025. Agreement has now been reached on personal terms, with Nottingham Forest keen to land an out-and-out goalscorer after an impressive Premier League season for the club.
Delap will sign a five-year contract at the City Ground. He netted 12 times in the Premier League for Ipswich Town last season. Liam Delap agrees Nottingham Forest transfer on permanent deal as exit from Chelsea confirmed after nightmare spell
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