Abstract The output feedback consensus control problem of multi‐agent systems is studied using an event‐triggered control strategy. Two types of transmission delays, one from the system output to the output feedback controller (OFC) and the other from the OFC to the zero‐order holder, are considered. This causes the OFC and the system not to be updated in the same time intervals. An interval dividing approach is applied to such that the whole system can be updated in the same time intervals. An event‐triggered OFC with performance is proposed for multi‐agent systems to achieve consensus. By constructing an appropriate Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, sufficient conditions based on linear matrix inequality are derived to guarantee the consensus achievement. Finally, the theoretical results are validated using computer simulation.