Chris Richards (soccer)

Last updated

Chris Richards
Chris Richards, 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 02 (cropped).jpg
Richards with the United States in 2025
Personal information
Full name Christopher Jeffrey Richards [1]
Date of birth (2000-03-28) March 28, 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [2]
Position(s) Center-back
Team information
Current team
 Crystal Palace
Number 26
Youth career
2016–2017 Texans SC Houston
2017–2019 FC Dallas
2018–2019 → Bayern Munich (loan)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019–2021 Bayern Munich II 38 (4)
2020–2022 Bayern Munich 5 (0)
2021 → TSG Hoffenheim (loan) 11 (0)
2021–2022 → TSG Hoffenheim (loan) 19 (1)
2022– Crystal Palace 63 (2)
International career‡
2018–2019 United States U20 12 (1)
2019 United States U23 2 (0)
2020– United States 33 (3)
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Men's football
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up 2025 Canada–United States
CONCACAF Nations League
Winner 2023 United States
Winner 2024 United States
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of September 13, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of September 9, 2025

Christopher Jeffrey Richards (born March 28, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for Premier League club Crystal Palace and the United States national team.

Contents

A youth player for FC Dallas in his home country, Richards began his professional career with Bundesliga club Bayern Munich, initially playing for the club's reserve team. After loan spells at 1899 Hoffenheim, he was signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace in 2022, where he won the FA Cup in 2025.

A former youth player for his country, Richards received his first senior call-up for the United States in 2020. He won the CONCACAF Nations League in 2023; scoring in the final, and 2024.

Club career

FC Dallas

Richards was raised in Hoover, Alabama, and played youth soccer for Hoover SC. In 2016, he was cut from a trial with FC Dallas Academy and instead joined Texans SC in Houston. [3] He then joined FC Dallas Academy in 2017. [4]

On April 12, 2018, Richards signed a professional contract with FC Dallas. [5]

Bayern Munich

In May 2018, Richards, with his FC Dallas colleague Thomas Roberts, went to a 10-day trial at FC Bayern Munich as part of an agreement between the two clubs. [6] As a result of his performance during the trial, in July he was offered a one-year loan with the German club. [7]

On July 21, 2018, Richards debuted for the Bayern senior team at the 2018 International Champions Cup, replacing Sandro Wagner in the 62nd minute of the 3–1 win against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. [8] During the 2018–19 season, he spent time with Bayern München U19s, becoming a team regular starter and being praised for his aerial abilities and his passing skills. [9] On January 19, 2019, Richards signed a $1.5 million permanent contract with FC Bayern Munich. [9] [10] On August 19, 2019, he made his professional debut when he started for FC Bayern Munich II at the 3. Liga in a 2–1 away win against Hallescher FC. [11] He made 30 appearances and scoring 4 goals for Bayern II in a team that won the 3. Liga. [12]

On June 20, 2020, Richards made his Bundesliga debut in a 3–1 victory over Freiburg. [13] On September 18, he made his first appearance of the 2020–21 Bundesliga season in Bayern's opening match against Schalke 04. [14] He made his first start for Bayern against Hertha BSC on October 4, in which he assisted a Robert Lewandowski goal in the 51st minute of a 4–3 win. [15]

On November 25, 2020, Richards made his UEFA Champions League debut for Bayern in a 3–1 victory over Red Bull Salzburg. He left the game in the 79th minute when he was replaced by Javi Martínez. [16]

Loan to Hoffenheim

On February 1, 2021, Richards joined the Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim on loan for the remainder of the season. [17]

Crystal Palace

Richards signed a five-year contract with Premier League club Crystal Palace on July 27, 2022, after being transferred from Bayern Munich for a €12 million fee. [18]

After making sporadic appearances in his first season, the 2022–23 campaign, he began to appear more prominently in the following season, 2023–24, initially out of position as a defensive midfielder under Roy Hodgson before shifting to his preferred centre-back position under new manager Oliver Glasner's back three system. [19] He scored his first goal for the club on 24 February, opening the scoring in a 3–0 home win over Burnley, with his goal being Palace's first under Glasner in his first match in charge. [20]

At the start of the 2024–25 season, Richards lost his place in the starting line-up to new loan signing Trevoh Chalobah, and was restricted to just six league starts in the first half of the season. However, his playing time increased following Chalobah's recall to Chelsea in January 2025. Richards went on to form an essential part of the back line alongside Marc Guéhi and Maxence Lacroix. [21] He scored his second goal for the club in a 5–2 defeat to Manchester City on 12 April. [22] Palace went on to win the FA Cup, their first ever major trophy, and qualify for European competition for the first time; Richards received praise for his defensive shut-out performance in the 1–0 victory against City in the 2025 FA Cup final. [23] [24] He was the only Crystal Palace player to have played every minute of every tie in the competition. [25] He also became just the second American to play in and win an FA Cup final, after Tim Howard in 2004. [26] [27]

International career

In January 2018, Richards was called for the MNT Youth National Team Summit Camp, which gathered 153 players from U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 Youth National Teams. [28] [29] In May 2018, he made his debut for the United States U20 team in a match against Honduras. On November 12, 2018, Richards was called for the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship as one of the three replacements allowed before the beginning of the "Qualification Stage". [28] [30] He, then, started in two of the tournament's three remaining matches, including the final, a 2–0 win, against Mexico. [31] [28] On May 10, 2019, he was included by the coach Tab Ramos in the 21-man squad called to represent the United States at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. [28] [32] Richards started all of the five matches that the Americans played in the tournament, including the 3–2 win against the heavy favorites, France. Richards played the entire game in all but one of the matches (that against Nigeria). [33]

He received his first call up to the senior United States squad for matches against Wales and Panama in November 2020. [34] He made his national team debut as a late substitute against Panama. [35] Richards scored his first goal for his country on 18 June 2023, scoring the first goal of United States' 2–0 win against Canada in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final. [36]

Personal life

Richards' father, Ken Richards, played college basketball at Birmingham–Southern College and later professionally in Australia, Bolivia and Iceland. [37]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played September 16, 2025 [38]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bayern Munich II 2019–20 3. Liga 304————304
2020–21 3. Liga80————80
Total384————384
Bayern Munich 2019–20 Bundesliga 1000—000010
2020–21 Bundesliga3000—3 [c] 01 [d] 070
2021–22 Bundesliga1010—000020
Total5010—3010100
TSG Hoffenheim (loan) [e] 2020–21 Bundesliga110——2 [f] 0—130
2021–22 Bundesliga19120———211
Total30120—20—341
Crystal Palace 2022–23 Premier League 900010——100
2023–24 Premier League2612020——301
2024–25 Premier League2416020——321
2025–26 Premier League4000101 [g] 01 [h] 070
Total63280601010792
Career total13671106060201617
  1. ↑ Includes DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ↑ Appearance in DFL-Supercup
  5. ↑ Represents two separate loans for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 respective seasons
  6. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Conference League
  8. ↑ Appearance in FA Community Shield

International

As of match played September 9, 2025 [39]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 202010
202150
202220
202361
202490
2025 102
Total333
Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Richards goal.
List of international goals scored by Chris Richards
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1June 18, 2023 Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, United States10Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1–02–0 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final
2June 19, 2025 Q2 Stadium, Austin, United States27Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 1–01–0 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup
3July 6, 2025 NRG Stadium, Houston, United States31Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1–01–2 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup final

Honors

Bayern Munich

Crystal Palace

United States U20

United States

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. June 13, 2019. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Chris Richards: Overview". Premier League. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  3. ↑ Stejskal, Sam. "The remarkable rise of Chris Richards". The Athletic. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Richards catches FC Dallas and USMNT attention". Chasing a Cup. May 3, 2020. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  5. ↑ "FC Dallas Signs Defender Chris Richards as 22nd Homegrown Player". FC Dallas. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Bayern Munich to welcome two FC Dallas youngsters". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Chris Richards: Who is Bayern Munich's young American?". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Bayern Munich come from behind to defeat Paris Saint-Germain". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  9. 1 2 Galarcep, Ives. "Sources: Chris Richards completes $1.5 million move to Bayern Munich". Goal . Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Chris Richards completes permanent Bayern Munich switch". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
    - "FC Bayern signs American Chris Richards from FC Dallas". FC Bayern. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
    - Gonzalez, Roger (February 15, 2019). "Bayern Munich's rising prospect Chris Richards is setting his sights on becoming an household name for American soccer". CBS Sports . Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Hallescher FC 1 – 2 Bayern München II". Soccerway. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  12. ↑ "C. Richards". Soccerway. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  13. ↑ Sigal, Jonathan (June 20, 2020). "FC Dallas product Chris Richards makes Bayern Munich first-team debut". MLS. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  14. ↑ Gonzalez, Roger (September 18, 2020). "Bayern Munich-Schalke score: Serge Gnabry's side nets 8 goals in Bundesliga opener; Chris Richards makes debut". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Bayern Munich 4 - 3 Hertha Berlin". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  16. ↑ Veth, Manuel (November 26, 2020). "Chris Richards Makes Champions League Debut As Bayern Make It 15 From 15". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Richards auf Leihbasis von Bayern zur TSG" [Richards on loan from Bayern to TSG] (in German). TSG Hoffenheim. February 1, 2021. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Crystal Palace sign Chris Richards on five-year deal". Crystal Palace F.C. July 27, 2022. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Chris Richards on rivalries, cities, positions & idols". Crystal Palace F.C. February 2, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Crystal Palace 3-0 Burnley: Eagles defeat Clarets in Oliver Glasner's first game in charge". BBC Sport. February 24, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Chris Richards on USMNT and Crystal Palace ambition: 'It would go berserk if we won a trophy'". The Athletic. March 23, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Manchester City 5–2 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. April 12, 2025.
  23. ↑ "USMNT's Richards: FA Cup win means world to me". ESPN.com. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  24. ↑ read, Mike McGrath·5 min (May 17, 2025). "FA Cup final player ratings: Erling Haaland goes missing as Chris Richards shines for Crystal Palace". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 17, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ↑ "The Numbers: Crystal Palace are FA Cup Winners!". Crystal Palace F.C. May 18, 2025.
  26. ↑ Julian Sturgis was born in the United States and won the 1873 FA Cup final but is considered a British soccer player.
  27. ↑ "USMNT's Chris Richards: FA Cup win means the world to me". ESPN. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "Player Bio – Chris Richards". United States Soccer Federation. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  29. ↑ Scavuzzo, Diane (December 29, 2017). "YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM SUMMIT CAMP ROSTERS". Soccer Today. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  30. ↑ "USA makes three roster changes at Concacaf U-20 Championship". Soccer Wire. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  31. ↑ "United States 2 x 0 Mexico". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
    - "Honduras 0 x 1 United States". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Tab Ramos Names USA Roster for 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland". United States Soccer Federation. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  33. ↑ Sousa, Justin (June 9, 2019). "Chris Richards bows out of U-20 World Cup with a strong set of performances". Bavarian Football Works. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
    - "USA 1–0 Qatar". FIFA. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
    - "USA 2–0 Nigeria". FIFA. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
    - "Ukraine 2–1 USA". FIFA. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
    - "USA 1–2 Ecuador". FIFA. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
    - "France 2–3 USA". FIFA. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  34. ↑ "USMNT Roster Announcement: Berhalter Calls 24 Players for November Camp matches vs Wales and Panama". US Soccer. November 3, 2020. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Goal-Scoring Outbursts Fuel Young USMNT Past Panama 6–2 in Austria". US Soccer. November 16, 2020. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  36. ↑ Tannenwald, Jonathan (June 19, 2023). "Five takeaways on the USMNT's Concacaf Nations League final win over Canada". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  37. ↑ Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson (November 26, 2020). "Faðir leikmanns Bayern lék körfubolta á Íslandi" [The Bayern player's father played basketball in Iceland]. Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
    - "The journey of Chris Richards, Part 1: The evolution Bayern Munich's newest prospect". SB Nation . February 4, 2019. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  38. ↑ Chris Richards at Soccerway . Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  39. ↑ Chris Richards at National-Football-Teams.com
  40. ↑ "Bayern Munich secure eighth successive Bundesliga title with win at Werder Bremen". bundesliga.com. June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  41. ↑ "Supercup 2020, Finale: Bayern München 3:2 Borussia Dortmund: Analyse" [Supercup 2020, Final: Bayern Munich 3:2 Borussia Dortmund: Analysis]. kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Robert Lewandowski double as Bayern Munich overcome Borussia Dortmund to win the Supercup". Bundesliga Official. Bundesliga. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  43. ↑ "Joker Javi Martinez köpft Bayern zum Supercup" [Joker Javi Martinez heads Bayern to the Supercup]. Kicker (in German). September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Crystal Palace 1–0 Manchester City". BBC Sport. May 17, 2025. Archived from the original on May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  45. ↑ "FA Cup holders Crystal Palace beat Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to win an enthralling Community Shield at Wembley". BBC Sport. August 10, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  46. ↑ "TSG announces the 2018 CU20 Best XI". CONCACAF. November 21, 2018. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  47. ↑ "U.S. beats Canada to win Nations League as Balogun opens account". ESPN. June 18, 2023. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Adams Reyna on target as United States complete three peat". CONCACAF. March 25, 2024. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  49. ↑ "THE WORLD'S YOUTH MEN TEAM OF THE YEAR 2020 (U20)". IFFHS. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Turner, Reyna and David lead way in CNL Finals Best XI". CONCACAF. June 19, 2023. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  51. ↑ "Díaz, Jiménez, Richards headline Gold Cup Best XI". CONCACAF. July 9, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
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