Nottingham Forest have officially confirmed that they have reached a club‑record agreement to bring Liam Delap to the City Ground, with the fee reported to be in the region of £50 million. The deal, which was first reported by several media outlets, is understood to be structured with an initial payment of at least £45 million, with potential add‑on clauses that could raise the total outlay to the full £50 million figure. The young striker is due to travel to Forest’s training base on Wednesday to undergo a medical examination, the final step before the transfer is formally completed. Delap’s move to Forest comes after a summer in which he attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
Everton were among the suitors, and there were rumours linking him with other top‑flight sides, but Forest were ultimately able to out‑bid the competition and secure his signature. The 21‑year‑old had originally arrived at Chelsea in the summer of 2022, when the Blues paid a reported £30 million to acquire him from Ipswich Town. Over the past year his valuation has risen sharply, with Chelsea now placing a price tag of roughly £50 million on the forward.
If the transfer goes ahead as reported, Chelsea stand to make a profit of around £20 million on a player who featured in 47 matches across all competitions last season, netting three goals during that spell. The £50 million fee would eclipse Forest’s previous record signing, which was the acquisition of Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town for £37.5 million in August 2025. The new record underlines the ambition of Oliver Glasner’s side, who have been actively reshaping their squad in the wake of a disappointing campaign that saw them finish in the lower half of the table. Forest’s hierarchy have indicated that the primary aim of bringing Delap in is to bolster a striking line‑up that has struggled for consistency since the departure of Taiwo Awoniyi to Coventry City for a fee of £9 million.
Former England international Tim Sherwood, speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Special programme, offered his perspective on the move. He praised Delap’s innate talent, saying, “We know Liam has the ability; he’s shown that in the past.
He needs regular minutes now and he needs to stay fit.” Sherwood went on to suggest that Delap’s lack of breakthrough at Chelsea was largely down to a shortage of sustained playing time, noting that “you need the manager to love you and play you every week, even if you’re not playing well.” He added that Forest manager Oliver Glasner, who has a reputation for favouring a target‑man style of attack, could provide the platform Delap needs to flourish. Sherwood drew a parallel with Jean‑Philippe Mateta’s resurgence under Glasner at Crystal Palace, arguing that a similar partnership could see Delap become a regular goal‑scorer for the Nottingham side. In addition to the striker, 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, although Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has publicly insisted that Bergvall will remain in north London for the foreseeable future.
Forest are also reportedly monitoring the situation at Fiorentina, where right wing‑back Dodo has been identified as a player of interest. Meanwhile, forward Dilane Bakwa is set to join Lille on a season‑long loan, and centre‑backs Zach Abbott and Tyler Bindon are both being linked with temporary moves away from the City Ground, with Watford among the clubs showing interest.
The signing of Delap is part of a broader strategy by Glasner to inject fresh talent and increase competition for places across the squad. By securing a high‑profile forward, the club hopes to improve its goal‑return and climb higher up the Premier League table next season. The move also signals Forest’s willingness to invest heavily in proven young talent, even if it means breaking their own financial records. As Sherwood aptly summed up, “Forget about the price tag because the price tags all over the Premier League now are just ridiculous.” Fans can follow the latest developments on the Transfer Centre LIVE app, stay updated with the Premier League ins and outs, and keep an eye on the Sky Sports App for real‑time news.
For those who enjoy interactive content, Sky Sports also offers a WhatsApp service and a Super 6 competition where participants can enter for free for a chance to win £1 million. All eyes will be on Forest’s medical department on Wednesday, when Delap’s health and fitness are assessed, marking the final hurdle before the deal becomes official and the young striker embarks on the next chapter of his career at the City Ground.