Chelsea have secured the services of striker Liam Delap from Ipswich, activating his £30million release clause and signing him until 2031. The deal for the England under-21 international was concluded last week, making him the Blues' first acquisition of the summer, with FIFA's 10-day June transfer window allowing for his immediate integration.

This will enable Delap to be involved in Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign in the United States, although his participation would mean missing out on the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia. Speaking to the club's official website, the 22-year-old expressed his excitement: "I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach.

"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. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that. The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective."

Manchester United also showed interest in Delap, but their absence from European football next season influenced his decision to choose a future in west London.

Under Enzo Maresca, who will see the Blues compete in the Champions League after a fourth-place finish, Delap reunites with the Italian coach having previously worked together both at Manchester City's under-23 level and with the senior squad when Maresca assisted Pep Guardiola.

Delap has only made six first-team appearances for City, scoring once, before going on loan to Stoke, Preston and Hull.

Despite Ipswich's demotion from the Premier League, which activated his release clause, he quickly adapted to the top flight, netting 12 times in his first full season - easily his best goal return - having spent most of his senior career in the Championship.

He said: "The most important thing for me last summer was going somewhere where I could play a lot of minutes. That was the opportunity I felt I needed, to go and express myself and show the player I am. Ipswich gave me that opportunity, which was so important, and I'm very grateful for that."

Chelsea's attack has been stretched thin this season due to injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, leaving the team without a fit striker for parts of the campaign.

Of these two, only Jackson has found the back of the net in the Premier League, highlighting the long-standing need for credible competition and support for the Senegalese international.