Ipswich Town sign striker Liam Delap from Manchester City for reported £15 million initial fee
Ipswich Town have completed the signing of Liam Delap from Manchester City for a fee reported to be an initial £15m, with adds-on potentially amounting to a further £5 million.
The striker, who is the Blues’ fourth signing of the summer – following confirmation of Jacob Greaves yesterday – joins the Portman Road outfit on a five-year deal. SuffolkNews’ media partners TWTD understand the transfer includes a sell-on of ‘around 20 per cent’ and a buyback clause, with Delap’s former academy club Derby County now set to receive a sell-on percentage.
The 21-year-old, who reportedly choose the Tractor Boys over fellow Premier League new-boys Southampton, spent last season on loan at Sky Bet Championship side Hull City and scored eight goals in 32 appearances, as the Tigers finished three points outside the play-off places.
The Manchester City academy graduate, who is an England Under-21 international, has made six first-team appearances for the Citizens, scoring once, having featured featured in the Premier League, Champions League and the FA Cup.
““I’m really excited,” Delap told TownTV, “I have heard so many good things about the feeling around the club, and how the players and staff work. That’s exactly why I’m excited to be here.
“The manager here likes to play exciting football. It’s quick and intense and I am looking forward to that.
“I want to bring goals and assists and I’ll work as hard as I can to help the team.”
Town boss Kieran McKenna feels Delap’s arrival will benefit the team in both the short and long-term.
"We are delighted to bring Liam to the club,” he said.
“We think he is a player with the qualities to help the team this season but also to be an important player for the club for many years to come.
“He is a player with outstanding physical and technical attributes who has a hunger to come here and continue to learn and improve.
“He has gained good first-team experience from a young age and we feel he has the potential for development here.”
Delap, the son of former Stoke City long-throw specialist Rory Delap, has also had loan spells at Stoke City and Preston North End.
He has represented England U21s on five occasions, scoring on his debut away to Luxembourg last September.
He joins winger or attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson (Chelsea, £18m), full-back Ben Johnson (free, West Ham), and centre-back Jacob Greaves (£15m) in signing for the newly-promoted Premier League club.
Meanwhile, one reported target who appears like he will not be ending up in Suffolk is Delap’s former Hull City team-mate Jaden Philogene.
The Mirror broke the story yesterday that the 22-year-old winger, who had been widely reported to have been in talks with Town as part of a joint bid with Greaves, has now opted to return to his former club Aston Villa.
It is said the Villians were able to exercise a buy-back option to match the reported £18 million fee the Blues had in for him.
Former England U21 international Philogene is with the Tigers on their pre-season tour in Riva, Turkey, but is not training with the main group ahead of an expected announcement on his return to Villa early next week.
