Liam Rory Delap (born 8 February 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Chelsea. He is the son of former professional footballer Rory Delap.
Delap joined Derby County's academy at the age of six where he spent the next 10 years before joining Manchester City's academy in 2019, impressing from a young age and being capped at several youth levels with England. He scored a goal and set up two others in the final of the 2020 Under-18 Premier League Cup.
In 20 appearances for the Manchester City's U23 side, Delap would score 24 goals and provide 5 assists, as the club won a record breaking league title. In all competitions, Delap achieved 36 goal contributions in 27 appearances across the season.
On 24 September 2020, Delap made his first-team debut in a 2âÂÂ1 home win against AFC Bournemouth in the EFL Cup, scoring his first senior goal in the 18th minute. After the match, manager Pep Guardiola praised him and confirmed Delap would continue training with the first team. Three days later, he made his Premier League debut in a 5âÂÂ2 home defeat by Leicester City, coming on as a substitute for Fernandinho in the 51st minute. In April 2021, Guardiola confirmed that Delap would be moved up to the first team permanently before the following season. Delap won his first trophy on 25 April, when City defeated Tottenham 1âÂÂ0 in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Delap, however, was not selected for the squad and instead had to follow the match from the stands.
During the 2021 pre-season, Delap suffered an injury to his foot, which led to him missing the Community Shield against Leicester City, which Manchester City lost 1âÂÂ0, and the 2021âÂÂ22 Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur, which they also lost 1âÂÂ0. On 20 August, amid interest from several Championship clubs looking to loan him, Delap signed a three-year contract extension with Manchester City. Following a number of injuries, he made his first appearance of the season as a substitute in the FA Cup 3rd Round tie against Fulham in February 2022, and also came on during the 4âÂÂ0 win over Norwich City in the Premier League, winning the penalty for the fourth goal. On 15 February 2022, Delap made his UEFA Champions League debut in the first leg of the round of 16 tie as a substitute for Bernardo Silva, in a 5âÂÂ0 away win over Primeira Liga champions Sporting CP.
On 18 August 2022, Delap joined Stoke City on loan for the 2022âÂÂ23 season. He scored his first goal for Stoke in a 3âÂÂ1 win over Sheffield United on 8 October 2022. After making 23 appearances for Stoke, scoring three goals, Delap was recalled by Manchester City on 12 January 2023 and was sent to Preston North End for the remainder of the 2022âÂÂ23 season.
On 2 July 2023, Delap joined Hull City on a season long loan. He made his debut on 5 August 2023 in the 2âÂÂ1 loss away to Norwich City, scoring the opening goal of the match. Delap was named Hull City's Player of the Month for December 2023.
On 13 July 2024, Delap joined newly promoted Premier League club Ipswich Town on a permanent deal worth up to ã20 million on a five-year contract. Delap scored his first goal for the club on 31 August, netting the opener in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Fulham. On 29 September, he scored both goals in a 2âÂÂ2 home draw with Aston Villa, becoming the first Ipswich player to net twice in a Premier League game since Marcus Bent in March 2002. On 30 December, Delap scored and assisted in a 2âÂÂ0 home league win over Chelsea, helping the club win their first Premier League home game since 2002 as well as their first victory over the Blues since 1993. He ended the season with 12 goals, finishing as the club's top goalscorer.
On 4 June 2025, fellow Premier League club Chelsea completed the signing of Delap on a six-year deal, triggering a release clause, reported to be ã30m. Delap made his debut for Chelsea on 16 June in their opening game of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, providing an assist for Enzo Fernández's goal in an eventual 2âÂÂ0 win over Los Angeles FC. On 19 June, it was announced that Delap was one of six nominees for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
He scored his first Chelsea goal on 24 June against Espérance Sportive de Tunis in the final group match. Later that year, on 25 November, Delap netted his first UEFA Champions League goal for Chelsea in a 3âÂÂ0 victory against Barcelona.
On 7 January 2026, Delap scored his first league goal for the club in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat to Fulham. On 13 February 2026, Delap completed a hat-trick of assists in a 4âÂÂ0 victory over Hull City in the fifth round of the 2025âÂÂ26 FA Cup.
Delap has represented the nation of his birth, England, at all youth levels but remains eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland and Scotland at senior international level through ancestry.
Delap finished as top scorer at the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Aegean Tournament for England Under-16 in Turkey and later that year went on to score twice for England U17 in a match against Austria. On 29 March 2021, Delap scored on his only appearance for the England U18 side during a 2âÂÂ0 win away to Wales at Leckwith Stadium.
On 23 March 2022, Delap made his U19 debut as a substitute in a 3âÂÂ1 win over Republic of Ireland during 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification at Bescot Stadium. On 17 June 2022, Delap was included in the England U19 squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He scored the only goal of the match in their last group fixture. On 1 July 2022, Delap came off the bench during extra time in the final and helped Aaron Ramsey score the last goal of the game as England beat Israel 3âÂÂ1 to win the tournament.
On 21 September 2022, Delap made his England U20 debut and scored during a 3âÂÂ0 victory over Chile at the Pinatar Arena. On 10 May 2023, Delap was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He started in their last group match against Iraq and also came on as a second-half substitute during their round of sixteen elimination against Italy.
On 11 September 2023, Delap made a goalscoring debut for England U21 during a 3âÂÂ0 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win away to Luxembourg. He also scored in their next qualifier against Serbia. In March 2025 Delap scored his third and last goal at under-21 level during a defeat away to France at Stade du Moustoir. He was included in the England training squad preparing for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship however ultimately Delap was withdrawn from competing at that tournament due to club commitments.
Delap was born in Winchester, Hampshire, and is the son of former professional footballer Rory Delap, who represented the Republic of Ireland national team. His brother is Burton Albion player Finn Delap.
His paternal grandfather and three great-uncles are originally from Letterkenny, County Donegal while his paternal grandmother is from Moynalty, County Meath. DelapâÂÂs maternal grandmother is from Perth, Perth & Kinross.
Delap has represented England at youth level but is also eligible for both Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
Manchester City
Chelsea
England U19
Individual