Soccer-Forest sign forward Delap from Chelsea for reported club-record fee


Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Hull City v Chelsea - MKM Stadium, Hull, Britain - February 13, 2026 Chelsea's Liam Delap in action with Hull City's John Egan REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Aug 27 (Reuters) - Nottingham Forest ⁠have brought in Liam Delap on a five-year ⁠contract from Chelsea, the Premier League club said ‌on Thursday, with the forward having signed for a reported club-record fee.

Financial details were not disclosed but British media said Forest have paid £45 ​million ($61.08 million) for the 23-year-old. The ⁠deal includes a further £5 million ⁠in add-ons.

Forest's previous record signing was Omari Hutchinson, who they ⁠signed ‌from Ipswich Town for £37.5 million last year.

"I really can't wait to get started, this is ⁠a massive club with a big history," Delap ​said in a ‌statement.

"I spoke to the manager (Oliver Glasner) 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."

Delap, son of ​former Stoke City midfielder Rory, came through Manchester City's academy and joined Ipswich in 2024, scoring 12 goals in 37 ⁠appearances in the 2024-25 season.

He moved to Chelsea in 2025 and was part of their Club World Cup-winning squad but failed to nail down a spot in the ​starting lineup as he struggled with ⁠injuries and poor form, scoring three goals in 47 appearances ​across all competitions.

Forest, who finished 16th ‌in the Premier League last ​season, travel to Liverpool on Saturday.

($1 = 0.7367 pounds)

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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