Chelsea has completed a £ 30 million relocation to sign Liam Delap from the relegated city of Ipswich.
The relegation of the tractor boys back to the championship, after just a single season in the top flight, saw a release clause in Delap's contract becoming active.
Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton were strongly connected to a movement for the 22-year-old, who scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League performances in 2024-25 after coming to Ipswich from Manchester City last year.
Delap reportedly wanted to play in the Champions League with Chelsea, who achieved a top five Premier League finish with a final day of victory over Nottingham Forest.
The blues, who have defeated themselves in the final of the Conference League, have handed DELAP a six -year contract and will pay £ 20 million of his transfer costs in advance.
“Growing up at this club, I understand its status and how incredible it has been over the years,” he told the Chelsea website.
“I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to go back to the top and have the quality and the players to do that.
“The hunger and the desire to add trophies to bring the club back to where it belongs, that is the main goal.”
Thinking about his time with Ipswich, the graduated City Academy said: “The most important thing for me last summer went somewhere where I could play for many minutes.
“That was the chance I felt that I needed, to express myself and show the player I am. Ippswich gave me that chance, which was so important, and I am very grateful for that.”
Ten of Delap's Premier League strikes for Ipswich were non-penalty goals, without no other player supplying more than four for the tractor boys. His 12 goals came from 9.3 expected goals (XG), giving him an over performance of 2.7 xg.
Delap participated in more duels last season than any other central striker (413) in the Premier League and also registered more Shot-ending Carry's than any other player in his position (26).
The Chelsea debut of Delap could come to the club World Cup, pulled with the blues to go to Los Angeles FC, Flamengo and Es Tunis in group D.
The striker was mentioned in Lee Carsley's England team for the under-21 euros in Slovakia, but it is now thought that he will join his new club in the United States.