Ipswich Town break silence on £30m Liam Delap to Chelsea transfer as medical confirmed.
Liam Delap Set to Join Chelsea After Blues Trigger £30m Release Clause
Liam Delap is on the verge of joining Chelsea after the club activated the 22-year-old striker’s £30 million release clause, which became effective following Ipswich Town’s relegation to the Championship.
Delap’s move comes after interest from several Premier League and overseas clubs, but the striker has opted for Chelsea due to Enzo Maresca’s tactical approach, the strength of the squad, and a belief in the club’s long-term ambitions. Chelsea see the deal as exceptional value, confident in Delap’s future potential.
The release clause was included in Delap’s contract when Ipswich signed him from Manchester City last summer, with relegation contingencies in mind. Ipswich chairman Mark Ashton, while not naming Delap directly due to confidentiality, shed light on the context surrounding the clause.
“When you’re a newly promoted club signing players from the Premier League, there’s always concern from the player’s side about being stuck in the Championship if things go wrong,” Ashton told the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star. “These deals are heavily negotiated. Often, the terms are presented to you as take-it-or-leave-it, because multiple clubs are in the mix.”
Ashton explained that while Ipswich tried to tweak terms where possible, the club ultimately had to accept certain conditions to secure top targets. “That’s just the reality — you go from being a big fish in a smaller pond to competing in the open ocean,” he said.
Back in March, Ashton assured fans the club was “very well protected” regarding Delap’s contract. Now it’s confirmed that the deal included a £30m relegation clause and a future profit share should Delap be sold again.
“As a club, we always know where we stand with our players,” Ashton added. “Every major decision is made with the long-term stability of the club in mind.”
He acknowledged that a few players may leave this summer, though he emphasized it won’t be a major exodus. While Delap’s name has been widely circulated in the media, Ashton noted that the club itself has not made any official statements — attributing the coverage to external influences like agents or other clubs looking to stir interest.
“To our fans, we say this: we’ve always tried to be transparent. Every move we make is to protect and advance the club, even in a market that can be unpredictable.”
