
Chelsea win race to sign Ipswich striker Delap
'It's going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies,' said the 22 year-old.
Chelsea beat off competition from Premier League rivals to sign English striker Liam Delap from Ipswich on Wednesday for a reported fee of £30 million ($41 million)
Delap, 22, scored 12 Premier League goals during his sole season at Portman Road but could not prevent Ipswich making an immediate return to the Championship.
Manchester United and Everton were also reportedly willing to meet the buyout clause in the England under-21 international's contract.
Chelsea's Delap 'can see the trajectory'
But Chelsea have won the race for the former Manchester City forward, bolstering their attacking options ahead of the Club World Cup in the United States, starting later this month.
'I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach,' said Delap, who has signed a six-year contract, in a Chelsea statement.
'It's going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.'
The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League and will return to the Champions League next season after a two-year absence.
And Enzo Maresca's men last week beat Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final to secure a trophy in the Italian manager's first season in charge.
In mid-December Chelsea were within touching distance of eventual Premier League champions Liverpool before hitting a rocky patch.
They finished the season strongly, securing a top-five spot on the final day of the season but were hamstrung by their lack of a clinical number nine.
Senegal international Nicolas Jackson scored just 10 times in 30 Premier League appearances, while Christopher Nkunku looks set to leave the club after an underwhelming two-year spell.
Delap, the son of former Stoke midfielder Rory Delap, began his career at Manchester City but struggled to break into Pep Guardiola's star-studded first team.
After loan spells in the second tier with Stoke, Preston and Hull, he was snapped up by Ipswich in a deal worth up to £20 million after they won promotion to the Premier League a year ago.
Delap was one of the few success stories for the Tractor Boys during a difficult season as they were relegated back to the Championship with just 22 points.
Chelsea will face Flamengo, LAFC and ES Tunis in the group stages of the Club World Cup, which gets underway on June 14.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
33 minutes ago
- IOL News
Mamelodi Sundowns aiming for glory at revamped FIFA Club World Cup
Themba Zwane Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane, seen here receiving the Premiership trophy. Hopefully, the fan favourite Themba Zwane makes the squad for FIFA Club World Cup, hosted in the United States this June. They secured their spot after a landmark African Champions League victory. In Japan, their journey was cut short after they were defeated by the Kashima Antlers. Reflecting on their previous venture outside Africa, Sundowns faced a harsh reality during the 2016 Club World Cup in Japan, where they did not secure a single victory. Their participation creates a platform for the club to showcase its talent against elite sides from Europe, South America, and Asia. The team is set to face formidable group opponents, including Borussia Dortmund—2024 UEFA Champions League runners-up, Brazil's Fluminense, and South Korea's Ulsan. The South African giants have secured their spot in the expanded 32-team tournament, which features a quartet of African representatives. It has been eight years since their last appearance in this international competition. This time, however, they aim to make a lasting impression against some of the world's leading football clubs. Mamelodi Sundowns are gearing up to compete in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, hosted in the United States this June, as they eagerly anticipate a return to the global stage. Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Subsequently, the team fell to a staggering 4-1 loss to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the fifth-place playoff, with Percy Tau's solitary goal the sole highlight of an otherwise disappointing campaign. Fast forward to the present, and Sundowns have embraced the lessons learned from that experience. The team's strategy is poised for a notable shift as they prepare for matches in the US. Unlike the dominant style they are accustomed to in the Premier Soccer League's Premiership, Sundowns' coaching staff has indicated a more measured approach and recognised the level of skill and experience they will face on the global stage. As part of their preparations, Sundowns will conduct their final training at the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, a facility renowned for developing top-tier athletic talent. This world-class training environment aims to provide the team with the best possible chance of success in the tournament. The new look FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on June 15, and for Sundowns, this is more than just another tournament. It's an opportunity to put African football on the map and to demonstrate their potential against some of the best clubs in the world. After the heart-wrenching experience of the CAF Champions League final defeat, the SA giants are now poised to seize an extraordinary opportunity, one that comes with the promise of substantial financial gain at the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. With a staggering R180 million up for grabs, the prize money dwarfs the combined earnings accrued from their recent exploits, runners-up in Africa and domestic league title holders. The Club World Cup's new format, which features eight groups of four teams, transforms each match into a lucrative affair. A single victory in the group stages is now valued at an impressive $2 million, marking a significant shift in how club football rewards success. But the financial potential does not end there. For Sundowns, the more they advance in the tournament, the more they stand to gain. The winners of the prestigious event will walk away with a staggering $40 million. A perfect run throughout the tournament could see the overall prize total soar to an astonishing $125 million. This monetary landscape presents an unparalleled chance for Sundowns to enhance their financial stability, improve their operational capabilities, and renew their aspirations on the continental stage. Capitalising on such lucrative prospects is crucial, and every player will need to bring their A-game should they wish to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime chance. Financial implications apart, it is also a pivotal moment for Sundowns to solidify their reputation and influence in global football. The journey ahead will undoubtedly be fraught with challenges, but the rewards could reshape the club's finances and also redefine its legacy in African football. As the countdown to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup begins, all eyes will be on Sundowns, a team that stands at the intersection of heartbreak and hope, ready to embark on a thrilling path towards history.


eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
Beckham to be awarded knighthood by King Charles: reports
LONDON - David Beckham will be awarded a knighthood by King Charles III next week in recognition of his football career and his charity work, reports said on Friday. The former England football captain is set to be named in the King's Birthday Honours List, according to the BBC and other sources. Other sporting figures who have been awarded the title include Beckham's former manager at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, and British tennis great Andy Murray. The Sun newspaper said he would take the title of "Sir" and his wife, Victoria, a former member of the Spice Girls pop group, will be known as Lady Beckham. Beckham played 115 times for England as well as for a list of high-profile clubs, including United and Real Madrid. He is currently the president and co-owner of the US team Inter Miami and co-owner of Salford City, who play in the fourth tier of English football. The 50-year-old, who has long been in the running for a knighthood, was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2003 -- a lower award in Britain's honours system. Victoria later received the same award for services to the fashion industry. David Beckham was last month named in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential leaders in philanthropy. He is an official ambassador for The King's Foundation, supporting its education programmes and "efforts to ensure young people have a greater understanding of nature" and has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 2005. Beckham is understood to have been on the verge of receiving a knighthood after helping London win its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. But UK authorities placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme, according to previous reports. He was subsequently cleared. In 2017, British newspapers printed details of leaked emails in which Beckham criticised the honours system and the honours committee, according to the BBC.

The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Beyond the pitch: Antoine Semenyo's secret weapon? His unshakeable faith
The final whistle has blown on the 2024/25 Premier League season, and as the dust settles, one electrifying name echoes louder than most: Antoine Semenyo. AFC Bournemouth's relentless, marauding Ghanaian forward didn't just play – he dominated, leaving defenders in his wake and fans on the edge of their seats. We managed to corner the man himself for a chat, diving deep into the season that saw him explode onto the Premier League stage. Get ready to hear his incredible story, in his own words. Bournemouth have reached incredible heights this season. What do you think has clicked this season? I think it started from pre-season, really. I think everyone was just ready to go. Kind of repeat what we'd done the season before. And I think we've exceeded the expectations, really. So, I think it stems down to the philosophy working again: those intensive speeds and just that mentality. I think everyone's mentality is top here and our place in the table shows that. You speak about mentality. I think anyone who's watched Bournemouth has maybe seen a change in your habits here, in particular at the Vitality Stadium. If they follow you on social media, they'll know that you're a man of faith. But we've seen you embrace it even more. We see some players before games praying their own ways, but I believe you take it a step further. You have a pastor who's actually a season ticket holder? Yeah, a season ticket holder. Do you know what's so funny? I met him through one of the players. He used to be here, Junior Stanislas, and I was just looking for a church. And he passed me his number. I started speaking with him, I got a good vibe from him and he told me that he's a season ticket holder. He comes to the games and watches us. And over time he started to build a little connection and I thought, I want to show my faith to the world. It's important to me. So I proposed the idea of him praying with me before the before the games. Everyone's intrigued to see what's going down. But yeah, I just want to share my faith to the world. Were you at all nervous about that? Because it's such a huge demonstration of faith and at a crucial moment, just before a game? So he would come over to this little part here, and then we just pray it out. Just give me that protection in the game, the Holy Spirit to lead me to goals. Keep me injury free. And yeah, it's all off-the-cuff freestyle, really. Does he comment about your game? Your style of play? Yeah, he does. After the game, he messages me, 'you are on fire! ' 'you pushed that guy in the stands!', and just little things like that just to make me laugh. But I think it all stems down to that prayer before the game, which is so important to me. And if I don't do that, I don't feel right for the game. So that has to be done before anything else is done. Do you feel faith has been key to what we've seen from you this season? 100%. I think at the start of the season, I knew I wanted to beat the numbers I got and I sat down, prayed on it, made sure that I got the Holy Spirit with me as well. So when I'm on the pitch, I feel like I'm invincible. No one can touch me. You've passed your second anniversary with the club, and surpassed your goals contribution from last season. Do you feel having that connection and relationship with God has taken you to this path? Yeah, definitely. I think at the start of the season, my goal was to beat the numbers that I got, and I always sit down and have a long prayer, a little conversation, just saying what I want to do for the season, and it's just coming into fruition now. So I know the Holy Spirit is working. God is working behind me as well. So I'm grateful.