Liam Delap Scores First Forest Goal in Aston Villa Win

Liam Delap has opened his Nottingham Forest account with a spectacular goal at Aston Villa, giving the club-record signing an early platform to push his case for England recognition.

Forest paid £50 million ($66m) for the 23-year-old in August 2026, making him the most expensive player in the club’s history. The forward arrived after a difficult spell at Chelsea, where he scored three times in 47 appearances as regular starts proved hard to secure, with Joao Pedro ahead of him in the pecking order. Delap did win the FIFA Club World Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

His move to Forest is another major step in a career that began in Manchester City’s academy. Delap then impressed during the 2024-25 Premier League campaign with Ipswich Town, scoring 12 goals despite the Tractor Boys’ relegation, before Chelsea paid £30m ($40m) to sign him.

Former Forest and England defender Walker believes Forest have acquired the type of centre-forward they had been missing. Having coached Delap as a teenager, Walker said the striker had always combined physical strength with sharp running and a natural eye for goal.

“Forest needed someone to lead the line,” Walker said. “Liam brings pace, power and a real target up front. He understands the game, knows where to be, and he knows how to finish.”

Walker said Forest’s recent issue had been conversion rather than chance creation, and believes Delap can change that. “They have made opportunities for their strikers over the past year, but they have not taken enough of them. If he fixes that, it will improve his England chances as well. He has the tools, but now he must settle in and produce.”

England opportunity remains open

Delap has 12 England Under-21 appearances but is still waiting for his senior debut. Walker feels a double-figure Premier League return for Forest would put him firmly on Thomas Tuchel’s radar, particularly with specialist No. 9s in short supply compared with the depth England have in attacking midfield positions.

Harry Kane remains England’s undisputed first-choice striker, with 89 international goals, but the 33-year-old will eventually leave a huge vacancy. Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have all had to operate behind Kane, while Delap is younger than each of them and could reach his prime when the captain’s international career ends.

England return to UEFA Nations League action on Tuesday at home to Czechia. Kane is set to win his 125th cap, drawing level with former Forest goalkeeper Peter Shilton on England’s all-time appearance list.