Nottingham Forest have confirmed they have reached a club‑record agreement to bring Liam Delap to the City Ground, a deal reported to be worth around £50 million. The figure is understood to start at a minimum of £45 million, with various performance‑related add‑ons potentially pushing the total fee up to the half‑billion‑pound mark. Delap is set to travel to Forest for his medical examination on Wednesday, after which the paperwork is expected to be completed and the young striker will officially become a Forest player.
The 22‑year‑old forward has been linked with several other Premier League sides during the past few weeks, including a notable interest from Everton. Despite the competition, Forest have managed to out‑bid their rivals and secure the signing, signalling their ambition to strengthen the attacking line after a season that saw them rely heavily on loan signings and occasional goals from a rotating cast of forwards.
Chelsea originally acquired Delap in the summer of 2023 for a fee reported to be around £30 million, having plucked him from Ipswich Town where he had impressed with his physical presence and eye‑for‑goal. Over the last twelve months his market valuation has risen dramatically, with the London club now placing him at roughly £50 million.
If the transfer proceeds as reported, Chelsea stand to make a tidy profit of about £20 million on a player who featured in 47 games across all competitions last season, finding the net three times. The move also eclipses Forest’s previous record signing, which came in August 2025 when they paid £37.5 million for Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town. By breaking that benchmark, Forest demonstrate a willingness to invest heavily in proven talent to improve their league standing and to provide a focal point for Oliver Glasner’s attacking plans.
Former England international Tim Sherwood, speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Special, praised Delap’s potential and explained why he believes the striker will flourish under Glasner’s guidance. Sherwood said, "We know Liam’s got the ability; he’s shown that in the past. He needs to play on a regular basis now.
He needs to stay fit. It never worked out at Chelsea. I never think he ever got a run in the team to give that striker the confidence; you need the manager to love you and play you every week, even if you’re not playing well.
I think he’ll get that with Glasner – you’ve seen that with Jean‑Philippe Mateta at Palace." Sherwood added that Glasner prefers a target‑man who can hold up the ball and bring teammates into play, stating, "He likes to play with a big striker; he likes support. If he can keep up with the play, I think he’ll score goals for Nottingham Forest, and I believe he will keep up with the play. He’s aggressive; he’s got a lot of attributes to be a top, top striker, but Chelsea just did not work for him, and that’s what happens.
Forget about the price tag because the price tags all over the Premier League now are just ridiculous." Forest’s decision to bring in Delap comes as part of a broader overhaul of their attacking options following the departure of Taiwo Awoniyi, who left for Coventry City for a fee of £9 million. The club have also been linked with a number of other targets to reinforce the squad.
Reports suggest that they have been monitoring Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall as a possible replacement for Elliot Anderson, although Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has publicly stated that Bergvall intends to stay in north London for the foreseeable future. In addition to the forward line, Forest are reportedly scouting a right wing‑back, with Fiorentina’s Dodo emerging as a player of interest. The club’s defensive department may also see some movement, as centre‑backs Zach Abbott and Tyler Bindon are rumored to be considering loan spells, with Watford among the clubs showing interest.
Meanwhile, French side Lille are set to take Dilane Bakwa on loan for the upcoming season, further illustrating the fluid nature of Forest’s transfer strategy. The acquisition of Delap is expected to give Oliver Glasner a more varied set of options up front, allowing the manager to experiment with different formations and styles of play. Delap’s physical stature, combined with his ability to hold up the ball and finish chances inside the box, could complement the pace of Forest’s wingers and provide a reliable outlet when the team is under pressure.
Moreover, his experience in a top‑flight environment, despite limited minutes at Chelsea, equips him with a professional mindset that could benefit younger players within the squad. If Delap can stay injury‑free and adapt quickly to the rigors of Forest’s playing style, he may well become the focal point of their attack and help the club push for a higher finish in the Premier League table. The club’s fans will be eager to see whether the hefty investment translates into goals and points, especially as Forest aim to cement their status as a mid‑table mainstay rather than a relegation battleground. Overall, the record‑breaking transfer underscores Nottingham Forest’s determination to compete at the highest level, while also highlighting the ever‑increasing financial stakes in the Premier League, where clubs are willing to spend significant sums on promising talent in the hope of immediate impact.
The coming weeks will reveal how quickly Delap can settle at the City Ground, pass his medical, and begin training under Glasner’s watchful eye, setting the stage for what could be an exciting new chapter for both player and club.