Chelsea’s latest recruit, Liam Delap, is already making headlines after joining from Ipswich Town in a £30 million deal. The 22-year-old striker has signed a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge, turning down the chance to represent England at the Under-21 Euros to focus on club duties under Enzo Maresca.
Delap wasted no time impressing fans and critics alike. He delivered an assist for Enzo Fernandez and scored his first goal for Chelsea in a convincing 3-0 win over ES Tunis at the Club World Cup.
Former Premier League star Alan Shearer praised the young forward’s start but noted there’s still room for development.
According to Shearer, Delap’s composed debut goal and confident performance are encouraging signs. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said,
“He’s rough around the edges, but he’s only going to get better. He’s shown no nerves and looks full of belief.”
The Premier League’s all-time top scorer remains optimistic that Delap has what it takes to succeed in west London.
Maresca echoed that belief post-match, highlighting his previous experience with Delap at Manchester City. The Chelsea head coach noted that while players like Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr might need more time to adapt to Chelsea’s playing style, Delap already understands the system.
“He had three chances against Flamengo, didn’t score, but he’s in the right positions. That’s what matters,”
Maresca said.
Delap’s impact is timely, as Chelsea now face Benfica for a place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals. With his early contributions and a familiar manager guiding him, Delap seems poised to quickly settle into life at Chelsea.
Whether he becomes the reliable striker Chelsea have long sought remains to be seen, but the early signs are promising.