Arsenal is reportedly negotiating to bring Chelsea striker Liam Delap to the Emirates, with a fee of £27 million on the table. If the deal goes through, it would mark a swift and somewhat embarrassing turnaround for Chelsea, who paid £30 million for the forward just 12 months ago.
That’s a £3 million haircut on a player Chelsea locked into a contract running until 2031.
From Ipswich to Chelsea to… already leaving
Delap’s journey to this point has been a whirlwind. The young striker moved to Chelsea from Ipswich Town in June 2025, with Chelsea activating a relegation release clause after Ipswich dropped out of the Premier League. The £30 million fee seemed like a bargain for a player who had shown genuine promise in the top flight, even with a team fighting for survival.
Arsenal was reportedly among the clubs interested in Delap during that 2025 window, alongside Manchester United. Chelsea won that particular bidding war.
