Chelsea fans are already buzzing about Liam Delap, even before his first appearance for the club. The 22-year-old striker has sparked excitement online after footage of his precise finishing in a shooting drill went viral on social media.
The Blues recently confirmed Delap’s arrival from Ipswich in a £30 million deal, beating out Manchester United for his signature. The former Manchester City academy talent has signed a six-year contract that keeps him at Stamford Bridge until 2031.
Chelsea decided to focus their search on Delap after considering several other high-profile options for the centre-forward position. The young Englishman has also opted to prioritize his new club duties over international commitments, skipping this summer’s European Under-21 Championship to be available for Chelsea at the Club World Cup.
With their first match in the tournament against Los Angeles FC set for Monday in Atlanta, the team has been training at Philadelphia Union’s facility. During a shooting drill with Pedro Neto and Moises Caicedo, Delap’s accurate strikes left goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with no chance, drawing loud praise from fans.
Comments flooded Chelsea’s Instagram post featuring the training clip. Supporters were quick to hail Delap as their new number nine, praising his calmness and pinpoint shooting. Some even compared his composure favorably to current forward Nicolas Jackson.
Since his unveiling, Delap has spoken passionately about his ambition to win silverware with Chelsea. He shared that the club’s winning mentality and clear ambition to return to the top inspired his decision to join.
Reflecting on his time at Ipswich, Delap expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play regularly and develop his game — something he hopes to build on in west London. Now, with a major tournament on the horizon and Chelsea fans already behind him, Delap’s journey in blue begins with momentum and expectation.