Town have confirmed the signing of striker Liam Delap from Manchester City.

The 21-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Portman Road, the Blues and the Premier League champions having agreed a fee of an initial £15 million plus a further £5 million.

It’s understood that the deal includes a sell-on of around 20 per cent and a buyback clause, while Delap’s former academy club Derby County will receive a sell-on percentage from the move.

Earlier in the week, TWTD reported that Delap had been at Town to have a look around the previous Thursday having done the same at other clubs, including Southampton, who also agreed terms with City.

“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.”

Boss Kieran McKenna added: "We are delighted to bring Liam to the club. 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.”

The former England U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21 international, the son of former Stoke long throw expert Rory, was poached from the Rams’ youth set-up by City in 2019.

Since then, he has spent time on loan at Stoke, Preston and last season the Tiger, where he scored eight times in 26 starts and six sub appearances.

For City, the 6ft 1in tall frontman, who also qualifies to play international football for the Republic of Ireland, made two sub appearances in the Premier League as well as four cup appearances, scoring three goals.

Delap is Town’s fourth signing of the summer, following Omari Hutchinson, Ben Johnson and Jacob Greaves, whose move was confirmed last night.

The new signings will join the rest of the squad for this week’s training camp in Austria.

Meanwhile, former Blues striker Kieffer Moore, 31, who returned to Town on loan for the second half of last season, is now expected to join Sheffield United from AFC Bournemouth having come close to moving to Hull.

Photo: ITFC

Europablue added 12:28 - Jul 13 VitalSigns As far as I know the buy back clause would only come into play if we wanted to sell him. If Utd. come in for him at 50 million next season, then City can match that minus the sell on percentage. If the player is happy here and we don't want to sell, Man City can't just buy him.
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Nomore4 added 12:38 - Jul 13 Thanks for stating the obvious
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Rimsy added 12:55 - Jul 13 Excellent signing. Looks a proper unit in his interview, will slot straight in with our style of play.
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algarvefan added 13:00 - Jul 13 Proper Job, impressed with signings so far.
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ArnieM added 13:10 - Jul 13 Does anyone know / think Delap will be seen as a first team starter or is he seen as " one for the future" ? Really loving our signings do far but would like to see another right CB as long feel our defensive pool is strong enough yet..... thoughts people?
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:41 - Jul 13 Four very solid signings so far and counting ....
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terryf added 14:06 - Jul 13 Would imagine both Delap and Hirst will have game time knowing the intensity of McKenna's style of play. Maybe another RCB will be on the radar along with a CM (Sheaf would be nice), a Goalkeeper definitely and now there is talk of Smzodics. We are certainly not going to lie down and roll over in the Premiership and I reckon we will surprise quite a few Teams
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ColinPayne added 15:36 - Jul 13 Such a shame that they didn't pick a better 'back-drop' than someone's up-and-over garage doors at that time of night❗️❓️❗️❓️❗️❓️
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Mark added 15:57 - Jul 13 A buy back clause means Man City can buy him for a certain amount even if we do not want to sell, but maybe not for a certain period of time. The transfer fee may vary over time. It depends what is in the contract.
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Marcus added 21:33 - Jul 13 Going by comments some clarification if it is a set value buyback clause or a matching offer clause would help. Matching offers, as we have found, favour the club with the clause.
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cardinaldom88 added 21:45 - Jul 13 I love the business that has been done so far. Some really good signings, lots of potential. What really has impressed me is the length of the contracts, which appears to be the result of FFP but also that the fees are not massive. The hierarchy at the club have a really good plan, in my opinion, steady development and not over reaching.
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Alphawhiskey added 12:29 - Jul 15 There is no such thing as a straight transfer nowadays. All sorts of clauses get added. Buy backs, sell ons, added fees, etc etc. Sounds a decent buy though. Hopefully another 4 or 5 to come.....
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