Liam Delap scores for Nottingham Forest against Manchester City after slow start
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The gist
Nottingham Forest striker Liam Delap scored to put his side 2-0 up against Manchester City.
The £45m signing had one goal before, so the strike eases pressure.
Background
Liam Delap is a 23-year-old striker who joined Nottingham Forest from Chelsea in late August 2026 for an initial £45 million plus £5 million in add-ons. Chelsea had dropped him from the number nine shirt and had him training away from the main squad while seeking £50 million for him. He had previously joined Chelsea from Ipswich for £30 million and scored one Premier League goal in 28 appearances there. Forest, managed by Oliver Glasner, had scored six goals in nine league games and sat in the relegation zone, which made Delap's slow start a talking point.
How it unfolded
- Aug 19, 2026Chelsea striker Liam Delap loses the number nine shirt and trains separately from the main squad, with Chelsea seeking £50m for him.
- Aug 27, 2026Nottingham Forest announce the signing of Delap from Chelsea for an initial £45 million plus £5 million in add-ons.
- Nov 2, 2026Delap, 23, has scored just one goal since joining Forest and is replaced by Chris Wood in the second half at Brentford.
- Nov 7, 2026Delap scores to double Nottingham Forest's lead against Manchester City, making it 2-0.
Key terms
- relegation zone
- Moved down to a lower division after finishing among the worst teams in a league season.
- number nine shirt
- The jersey with the number nine, traditionally worn by a team's central striker in football.
- add-ons
- Additional payments in a deal that depend on future events or conditions being met.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Public
- Many Forest fans believe Delap will come good given patience and time.
- Caution
- Forest's poor scoring record — six goals in nine league games and blanks in five of them — has kept scrutiny on the attack.
Still unverified
A social media post claims Delap has scored 24 goals in 20 appearances in a top division this season, including three hat-tricks.