Having figured on the bench in Monday’s Premier League opener at Wolves, Delap has now been afforded his first team bow at the age of just 17.
The striker, who is the son of former Stoke City and Republic of Ireland star Rory Delap, has gone from strength to strength since moving to City from Derby County in the summer of 2019.
Mixing power with panache, the teenager also boasts an explosive turn of pace, prodigious skill and a genuine hunger and thirst for goals.
A traditional leader of the line and standing over 6ft, Delap relishes the physical side of the game and despite his tender years he is a formidable presence on the field.
CITY+ | Sign up to access exclusive content
But he marries that athleticism with guile and skilful creativity to make him a hugely exciting prospect.
Born in Winchester, Delap made a big impression in Derby’s Academy set up from an early age and has been capped by England at Under-17 level.
Despite some early disruption to his City career through injury Delap emerged as one of the talismans of our Under-18s’ hugely successful 2019/20 campaign.
He was one of the mainstays in the side that lifted both the Under-18 Premier League national title, scoring seven goals and providing six assists, as well being one of the architects in the successful defence of our Under-18 Premier League Cup.
Delap was subsequently invited to train with City’s senior squad earlier this summer – an experience he described as ‘incredible’.
“It was a really good experience training with the first team too,” Delap admitted. “Obviously they’re the best of the best and learning from them and being around them shows what the highest level is like and what it takes to be there. Getting a taste of that gives me great confidence.”
SUBSCRIBE NOW TO THE OFFICIAL MAN CITY PODCAST
It maybe no coincidence that Delap has begun the new campaign in formidable fashion.
Delap scored twice to help City’s Under-21s to a fine 3-0 win at Mansfield in our opening EFL Trophy Group E win earlier this month.
And he then followed that up with another goal as City’s EDS side drew 3-3 with Derby in our Premier League 2 opener earlier this month.
Now come the latest stages in his career progression and a starting place in City’s senior side for the very first time.
