Official: Liam Delap joins Nottingham Forest, contract until June 2031.

Nottingham Forest has officially announced that Liam Delap joins the club from Chelsea, signing a five-year deal. According to journalist Romano, the total cost of this transfer reaches £50m, with add-ons included.

Here is the official announcement:

Nottingham Forest is delighted to confirm Liam Delap has joined the club, signing a five-year deal.

The forward arrives on Trentside from Chelsea having spent the past season at Stamford Bridge, where he featured 47 times in all competitions. Five of those appearances came in the UEFA Champions League and Delap scored his first goal in Europe’s elite competition in a 3-0 win against FC Barcelona.

Delap moved to London following a standout year during the 2024/25 season with Ipswich Town, becoming the Tractor Boys' top goal scorer with 12 goals in the Suffolk side’s first season back in the top flight for 22 years.

The striker began his professional career at Manchester City, having joined the academy as a 16-year-old. After scoring on his senior professional debut in the EFL Cup against AFC Bournemouth at the age of just 17, Delap made his first Premier League appearance three days later, coming off the bench against Leicester City in September 2020.

During that same campaign, Delap had a prolific season for City’s Under-21 squad, scoring 27 times in just 22 games. 

It was a successful year on loan at Hull City during the 2023/24 season that resulted in a permanent move away from Manchester, joining newly promoted Ipswich, where he was named Players’ Player, Young Player and Supporters’ Player of the Season for the 2024/25 campaign.

The 23-year-old has been a constant in the England youth setup, representing the Young Lions from the Under-16s right up to the Under-21s. Delap has won silverware for his country in that time, and was part of the squad that beat Israel in the final of the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championships in Slovakia.

On joining Forest, Delap said: “I really can’t wait to get started, this is a massive club with a big history.

“I spoke to the manager and I like his way, I think he can be the one to really help me develop and make that next step and hopefully I can bring goals here.

"I can’t wait to hear the noise at the City Ground and have the fans on my side because I know how loud and important they are. 

“As a team we can build something really strong and the main aim is to challenge and be a top club in the Premier League.”

George Syrianos, Chief Football Officer, added: “Liam is a top talent and someone we have been monitoring for some time, and we are delighted he is joining us.

“He is a young player but already has plenty of experience at different levels of the game, and he has come here hungry to develop further and play a part in helping the club achieve its ambitions.

“He understands the demands of this division and wants to make an immediate impact, so we are all looking forward to seeing him in a Forest shirt.”

Delap will wear the number 19 shirt for the 2026/27 season. Everyone at Forest welcomes Liam, wishing him all the best for his time at the club.