Online Reporter
CHAMPIONS League football; the chance to play alongside Cole Palmer; the youngest squad in the English Premier League.
They were three of the reasons that helped Chelsea win the race to sign Liam Delap.
Manchester United, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle all showed strong interest in the England Under-21 striker after a £30m release clause was activated following Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League.
Manchester City had a buy-back option after selling Delap for £20m last summer, but opted not to use it.
Earlier last month, Delap was given permission by Ipswich to speak to several interested clubs.
Over the past week it became evident the choice was between Manchester United and Chelsea, but the Blues’ final-day victory over Nottingham Forest — which confirmed Champions League qualification — proved a deciding factor.
Interested parties were told a week ago that the 22-year-old had made his decision, and he was spotted at Stansted Airport that evening before a medical.
He is now likely to join up with his new club for the inaugural summer Club World Cup — instead of playing for England at the European Under-21 Championship.
Delap has been a key target for Chelsea all season and it is understood co-owner Behdad Eghbali met David Manasseh, the player’s key agent, in Dubai. Eghbali even expressed his fondness for the player to Chelsea fans in Wroclaw before the Conference League final.
Head coach Enzo Maresca also pitched directly to Delap — as did at least one other manager — in face-to-face talks once Ipswich granted permission.
Delap has been impressed with Chelsea’s style of play and feels the club will be a good fit.
He was also urged to make the move by several former City academy graduates he will join at Stamford Bridge — such as Jadon Sancho, Romeo Lavia, Tosin Adarabioyo and Palmer.
Maresca worked with Delap in City’s elite development squad, while Chelsea’s key recruiter Joe Shields is also known to have a good relationship with the player and his family, and academy director Glenn van der Kraan is one of several other connections between the two Premier League clubs.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna also retains good relations with the Chelsea hierarchy after being interviewed for their manager’s job last summer.
And he will hope that helps in a potential move for striker Marc Guiu, who interests Ipswich as a loan replacement for Delap.
The 19-year-old Spaniard scored six goals in 14 appearances for Chelsea this season but has missed most of 2025 with a muscle injury. He returned as a late substitute during the Conference League final in Wroclaw. — BBC Sport.
