Nottingham Forest have confirmed the completion of a landmark transfer, securing the services of young striker Liam Delap from Chelsea for a fee that could rise to £50 million, setting a new record for the club. The deal is reported to be at least £45 million initially, with various performance‑related add‑ons potentially pushing the total outlay to the half‑billion‑pound mark. Delap is slated to travel to Forest's training ground for a medical examination on Wednesday, after which the paperwork is expected to be finalized and the player will be introduced to the fans.
The 22‑year‑old forward has attracted interest from several Premier League outfits over the past few weeks. Everton were among the clubs reported to be monitoring his situation, but Forest managed to out‑maneuver the competition and lock in the signing. Chelsea, who originally snapped up Delap from Ipswich Town last summer for a reported £30 million, have now placed a valuation of roughly £50 million on the striker.
If the transfer proceeds as expected, the London club could walk away with a profit of around £20 million, despite Delap’s modest return of three goals in 47 appearances across all competitions last season. Forest’s previous record signing was the acquisition of forward Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town for £37.5 million in August 2025, meaning Delap’s arrival eclipses that figure by a significant margin. The club’s hierarchy view the investment as a strategic move to bolster their attacking options after the departure of Taiwo Awoniyi, who left for Coventry City for a fee of £9 million earlier in the summer window. Former England international Tim Sherwood, speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Special, praised Delap’s potential and explained why a move to Forest could be the catalyst the young striker needs.
"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," Sherwood said. He added that Delap never received a sustained run of games at Chelsea, which hampered his confidence. "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 also highlighted the tactical fit with Forest’s head coach Oliver Glasner.
"He likes to play with a big striker; he likes support. If Delap 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," the former player concluded. Beyond Delap, Forest have been active on several other fronts in the transfer market. The club have been linked with Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall as a potential replacement for Elliot Anderson, though Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has publicly stated that Bergvall intends to remain in north London for the foreseeable future.
Additionally, Forest are reportedly scouting a right wing‑back, with Fiorentina’s Dodo emerging as a player of interest. In the opposite direction, French side Lille are set to take Dilane Bakwa on loan, while young centre‑backs Zach Abbott and Tyler Bindon could also depart on temporary deals after attracting interest from Watford.
These moves suggest that Forest are looking to balance their squad depth while focusing resources on strengthening the forward line. The signing of Delap is expected to provide a fresh focal point for Forest’s attack, offering a blend of physical presence, technical skill, and the raw potential that has made him a coveted prospect among top‑flight clubs. With Oliver Glasner’s reputation for developing talent and implementing an attacking style of play, the environment could be ideal for Delap to fulfil the promise he showed during his youth international career and early senior appearances.
If all goes to plan, Delap will join the Forest squad ahead of their upcoming fixtures, giving the manager a new weapon to deploy in the Premier League. The club’s supporters will be eager to see whether the investment translates into goals and improved results, especially as Forest aim to climb the table and secure a stable position in the top tier. For fans wanting to stay updated on the latest transfer developments, the Sky Sports Transfer Centre provides live updates via its mobile app, and the network also offers a dedicated WhatsApp service for breaking news. As the summer window draws to a close, Nottingham Forest’s ambitious spending spree underscores their intent to compete more aggressively in the league, with Liam Delap poised to become a central figure in that plan.