Lewis Richards (footballer, born 2001)

Lewis Richards

Richards with Bradford City in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Lewis Paul Jimmy Richards [1]
Date of birth	(2001-10-15) 15 October 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth	Liverpool, England
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) [2]
Position	Defender
Team information
Current team	Bradford City
Number	19
Youth career
0000–2016	Brentford
2016–2021	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	(0)
2022	→ Harrogate Town (loan)	8	(0)
2022–2023	→ Harrogate Town (loan)	9	(0)
2023–	Bradford City	48	(2)
International career
2019	Republic of Ireland U19	3	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:15, 14 October 2025 (UTC)

Lewis Paul Jimmy Richards (born 15 October 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Bradford City. Born in England, he represents Ireland at youth level.

Career

Born in Liverpool, ^[1] Richards began his career in the Brentford Academy, before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers after the closure of the academy in 2016. ^[3]

On 13 January 2022, Richards joined League Two club Harrogate Town on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season, ^{[4] [5]} playing his first game for the club on 22 January in a 3–0 home win against Oldham Athletic, where he was substituted in the 82nd minute for Nathan Sheron. ^[6]

He returned to Harrogate in July 2022 for a second loan spell. ^{[7] [8]} This was cut short in January 2023 when Richards sustained an ankle injury which ruled him out for four months and he returned to his parent club. ^[9]

On 18 August 2023, Richards signed for Bradford City, joining on an initial two-year contract. ^{[10] [11]} His debut came on 19 August 2023 in a 3–0 away defeat at Morecambe; after the match, he said the players had let the fans down. ^[12] Richards suffered an injury during a match on 26 December 2023, and was ruled out for a few weeks. ^[13] After returning to first-team action, he was injured again in February 2024. ^[14]

In September 2024, in his first league start of the 2024–25 season, Richards suffered an injury. ^[15] He suffered a further injury, to his shoulder, in November 2024. ^{[16] [17]} His shoulder injury returned in February 2025, but Richards delayed surgery in order to remain available for the club in their late season promotion push. ^[18] Later that month he was reported to be close to a return. ^[19]

At the end of the 2024–25 season, Bradford City entered into discussions with him regarding a new contract. ^{[20] [21]} Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Richgards missed pre-season due to injury. ^[22] In July 2025 he signed a new one-year contract with the club. ^[23] Later that month he returned to training, ^[24] although bu the end of August he had not returned to first-team play. ^[25] In September he played in a behind-closed-doors 'bounce' match to assist his return to fitness. ^[26] He made his first appearance of the 2025–26 season in October 2025 in the EFL Trophy. ^[27]

Style of play

As of November 2024, Richards was primarily playing for Bradford City as a left wing back, ^[28] having also played in the centre of defence. ^[29] Bradford City manager Graham Alexander said Richards needed confidence in his new role as a wing back. ^[30]

Career statistics

As of match played on 14 October 2025 ^[1]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Wolverhampton Wanderers	2019–20	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	4 [a]	0	4	0
	2020–21	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	3 [a]	0	3	0
	2021–22	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	2 [a]	0	2	0
	2022–23	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0	9	0
Harrogate Town (loan)	2021–22	League Two	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
Harrogate Town (loan)	2022–23	League Two	9	0	0	0	1	0	3 [a]	0	13	0
Bradford City	2023–24 [31]	League Two	26	0	0	0	0	0	4 [a]	1	30	1
	2024–25 [32]	League Two	22	2	1	0	1	0	4 [a]	0	28	2
	2025–26 [33]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	1	0
	Total		48	2	1	0	1	0	9	1	59	3
Career total			65	2	1	0	2	0	21	1	89	3

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

1. Lewis Richards at Soccerway . Retrieved 22 January 2022.
2. Lewis Richards at WorldFootball.net
3. "Richards has a bright future – Sellars". ClubCall.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
4. "Wolves youngster Lewis Richards joins on loan". 13 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022– via www.harrowgatetownafc.com.
5. "Lewis Richards: HarrogateTown sign Wolves defender on loan". BBC Sport. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
6. "HarrogateTown 3-0 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
7. "Harrogate sign defender Richards on season loan". BBC Sport. 8 July 2022.
8. Rayner, Stuart (8 July 2022). "Harrogate Town hoping to give Lewis Richards the full season he needs as Wolves youngster returns for another loan". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
9. "Lewis Richards returns to Wolverhampton Wanderers from Harrogate Town following ankle injury". Harrogate Advertiser. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
10. "Bantams bring in Wolves defender Richards". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
11. "Bantams snap up Wolves defender Richards - and he can play tomorrow". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 18 August 2023.
12. "Lewis Richards interview: 'You feel like you've let the fans down'". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 22 August 2023.
13. "Bantams boss gives update on Lewis Richards and praises replacement". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 5 January 2024.
14. "Bantams boss gives update on Wright, Walker and Richards". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 15 February 2024.
15. "Bradford City injury update on Jamie Walker, Lewis Richards and Joe Adams". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 23 September 2024.
16. "'Bang, bang, bang': Richards adds to Bradford City casualty list". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 18 November 2024.
17. "City defender "determined to be back involved" for Saturday". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 27 November 2024.
18. "Bantams boss issues update on Lewis Richards injury". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 12 February 2025.
19. "Training ground update on Calum Kavanagh and Lewis Richards". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 19 February 2025.
20. https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2025/may/13/retained-list--2024-25/
21. "Six to go, five in talks as Bradford City reveal retained list". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 13 May 2025.
22. "Why Pointon had to wait for his chance in Bantams friendly". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 6 July 2025.
23. "Recovering Richards signs new deal to stay at Valley Parade". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 11 July 2025.
24. "'Bedding-in process': Bantams still careful as Richards gets physical". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 17 July 2025.
25. "Bantams training updates on Lewis Richards and Andy Cook". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 27 August 2025.
26. "Richards and injury latest as Bantams arrange private game". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 9 September 2025.
27. "Bantams defender Richards revved up from 'kick up the backside' by the Tyne". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 16 October 2025.
28. "Richards set for City run as waving goodbye to Wolves looks increasingly smart". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 8 November 2024.
29. "Graham Alexander praises Bradford City professionalism as reshuffled defence does its job and Andy Cook does the rest". Yorkshire Post. 12 October 2024.
30. "'Believe in yourself': Richards backed to impress as City wing-back". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 17 December 2024.
31. "Games played by Lewis Richards in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
32. "Games played by Lewis Richards in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
33. "Games played by Lewis Richards in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 October 2025.