The striker has begun a new chapter at Nottingham Forest after Chelsea agreed a deal worth £45m plus £5m in potential add-ons, just a year after signing him from Ipswich Town.
Delap struggled to establish himself at Stamford Bridge, scoring three times in 47 appearances before Chelsea sanctioned his departure. During pre-season, he was among a group of players training separately from the first team while the club worked through potential exits.
“Obviously it’s a bit rubbish going to train away from the group, but I think I’ve got really good people around me,” Delap said in an interview with The Telegraph.
“My dad [Rory, the former Stoke and Ireland midfielder] has been through it all, and you hear everything that happens in football, so nothing surprises you.
“That good culture that I’ve got around me helped and it’s just about keeping your head down. Only do what you can do right because if you do something bad then it will only be negative on you.”
The England forward acknowledged that being separated from the main group was frustrating, but said the support around him helped him handle the situation. He has also rejected the idea that choosing Chelsea was a mistake, despite the limited return from his first season there.
“You have your ups and downs, and I’ll never regret doing anything because it just shapes me as a person,” he said.
“I’m still only young and not everyone is on a linear path. I learned so much from Chelsea. Even when I was on loan at Stoke and Preston, they didn’t work out football-wise but they taught me so much.
“Sometimes you learn and benefit more when things are not going well.”
Delap joined Chelsea after the club triggered the £30m relegation release clause in his Ipswich contract. His performances for Ipswich had attracted interest from several Premier League sides, including Everton and Manchester United, but he opted for Stamford Bridge.
His Chelsea spell proved short. The club agreed to sell him to Forest for an initial £45m, with a further £5m potentially payable in add-ons, according to the Evening Standard.
The move gives Delap the chance to rebuild his momentum after a season in which he struggled to turn his opportunities into goals. Chelsea, meanwhile, have moved on from a signing who did not become a regular scorer.
Delap’s comments suggest he views the experience as a lesson rather than a mistake. He remains young enough to develop, and credits his family and wider support network with helping him keep perspective during an unsettled period.