Richard Chin

For the American politician from Kentucky, see Richard Chin (politician).

Richard Chin

Chin with Farnborough in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Richard Li Hua Chin [1]
Date of birth	(2002-10-15) 15 October 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Bexley, England
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder, full-back
Team information
Current team	Raith Rovers
Number	7
Youth career
0000–2021	Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2024	Charlton Athletic	5	(0)
2023	→ Dartford (loan)	7	(0)
2023	→ Dartford (loan)	6	(3)
2024	→ Bath City (loan)	3	(1)
2024–2025	Farnborough	42	(7)
2025–	Raith Rovers	3	(0)
International career‡
2025–	Malaysia	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 28 August 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 8 September 2025

Richard Li Hua Chin (born 15 October 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or full-back for Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers. Born in England, he plays for the Malaysia national team.

Early life

Chin is of Malaysian and Seychellois descent; his father is Malaysian Chinese and his mother is from the Seychelles. ^[2] As a result of his heritage, he is eligible to represent Malaysia, Seychelles, and England internationally. ^[3] However, he has expressed his interest in representing for Malaysia. ^[4]

Between 2014 and 2021, Chin attended BETHS Grammar School in Bexley, United Kingdom. In 2017, Chin helped the school to the Under-14s English Schools Cup, alongside future Charlton teammate Euan Williams, as well as Lewis Bate and Samuel Edozie, who have gone on to play for Leeds United and Southampton respectively. ^[5]

Career

Charlton Athletic

Chin started his career with Charlton Athletic, joining the club at the age of six. ^[2] He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021. ^[3]

Chin made his first-team debut in the EFL Trophy on 10 November 2021, starting in a 1–0 defeat to Leyton Orient. ^[3]

On 13 September 2022, Chin started his first League One match, playing the first 72 minutes, in a 1–1 draw with Forest Green Rovers. ^[6] In doing so, Chin became the first person of Malaysian heritage to play in the England's third tier. ^[7]

On 22 March 2023, Charlton took up the extension option in his contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2024. ^[8]

On 3 May 2024, it was confirmed that Chin would leave Charlton Athletic when his contract expired. ^[9]

Dartford (loans)

On 23 March 2023, Chin joined Dartford on loan for the rest of the 2022–23 season. ^[10] On 1 April 2023, Chin made his debut with National League South side Dartford in a 4-0 win against Dulwich Hamlet.

On 24 November 2023, Chin returned to Dartford on an initial month's loan. ^[11] On 25 November 2023, Chin score his first goal for the team in a 3-0 win up against Torquay United.

Bath City (loan)

In February 2024, Chin joined Bath City on loan for the rest of the 2023–24 season. ^[12] On 10 February 2024, Chin made his debut with National League South side Bath City in a 1-0 win against Dartford. Chin made his team debut after got selected in the team first eleven.

On 17 February 2024, Chin score his first goal for the team in a 3-1 win against St Albans City.

Farnborough

On 1 August 2024, Chin joined National League South side, Farnborough following his release from Charlton. ^[13] On 20 August, he scored a goal for the team in a 2-0 win against Eastbourne Borough.

Raith Rovers

On 17 June 2025, Chin joined SPFL Championship side, Raith Rovers for an undisclosed fee. ^[14]

International career

Being born in England to a Malaysian father and a Seychellois mother, Chin was eligible to represent either England, Malaysia, or Seychelles. ^[15]

On 29 August 2025, he was named in the Malaysia squad for a training camp ahead of the friendly matches against Singapore and Palestine in September. ^[16] Ahead of the friendly against Palestine, he expressed his hope to make his debut and contribute to the team. ^[17] He made his debut for Malaysia on 8 September 2025, coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute to replace Quentin Cheng, in a 1–0 win over Palestine at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor Bahru. ^{[18] [19]}

Personal life

Chin converted to Islam in November 2024, having recited the Shahada privately on his own initiative. ^{[20] [21]} News of his conversion became public in September 2025 following media coverage of a video showing him performing prayers at the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque in Johor Bahru alongside his national teammates and members of the Palestinian squad. ^{[22] [23]}

Career statistics

Club

As of 22 August 2025 ^[24]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Charlton Athletic	2021–22	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	1	0
	2022–23	League One	5	0	3	0	3	0	4 [b]	0	15	0
	2023–24	League One	0	0	0	0	1	0	1 [c]	0	2	0
	Charlton Athletic total		5	0	3	0	4	0	6	0	18	0
Dartford (loan)	2022–23	National League South	7	0	—		—		1 [d]	0	8	0
Dartford (loan)	2023–24	National League South	6	3	—		—		1 [e]	0	7	3
Bath City (loan)	2023–24	National League South	3	1	—		—		1 [f]	0	4	1
Farnborough	2024–25 [25]	National League South	42	7	1	0	—		1 [g]	0	44	7
Raith Rovers	2025–26	Scottish Championship	3	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	6	0
Career total			66	11	4	0	7	0	10	0	87	11

1. One appearance in the EFL Trophy
2. Four appearances in the EFL Trophy
3. One appearance in the EFL Trophy
4. One appearance in the National League South Play-Offs
5. One appearance in the Kent Senior Cup
6. One appearance in the Somerset Premier Cup
7. One appearance in the FA Trophy

International

As of match played 8 September 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Malaysia	2025	1	0
Total		1	0

References

1. "EFL squad list 2021/22 & U21 registered contracted players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
2. Temuramah Richard Li Hua Chin bersama Astro Arena , retrieved 2022-08-20
3. "Richard Chin Charlton Athletic Biography". Charlton Athletic Official Site. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
4. "Rock Sports Management on Instagram: "History Maker 🇲🇾 📰 Richard Chin has become the first Malaysian heritage player to compete in the English Football League. "A dream come true to make my league debut for the club I joined when I was 6" ☑️League 1 debut 13.09.22 The Malaysian FA are aware of his intent to represent Malaysian. [@richardchin_ & @cafcofficial] #cafc"". Instagram. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
5. Blyghton, Richard (12 May 2017). "School Blog week ending 12 May 2017". BETHS Grammar School Blog.
6. "Charlton Athletic 1-1 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
7. "Richard Chin makes League One debut, first with Malaysian heritage to play in England's third tier". The Star. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
8. "Club exercise Chin contract extension". www.charltonafc.com. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
9. "2023/24 END-OF-SEASON SQUAD UPDATE". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
10. "RICHARD CHIN COMPLETES DARTFORD LOAN". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
11. "RICHARD CHIN REJOINS DARTFORD ON LOAN". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
12. "Player News – Richard Chin". Bath City Official Site. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
13. Lloyd, Dom (1 August 2024). "Highly-rated Chin joins Boro". Farnborough FC. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
14. "WELCOME RICHARD CHIN!". Raith Rovers FC X (formerly Twitter). 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
15. "Rock Sports Management on Instagram: "History Maker 🇲🇾 📰 Richard Chin has become the first Malaysian heritage player to compete in the English Football League. "A dream come true to make my league debut for the club I joined when I was 6" ☑️League 1 debut 13.09.22 The Malaysian FA are aware of his intent to represent Malaysian. [@richardchin_ & @cafcofficial] #cafc"". Instagram. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
16. "MEDIA RELEASE: LIST OF 29 PLAYERS FOR THE HARIMAU MALAYA CENTRALIZED TRAINING CAMP (SEPTEMBER 2025)". Football Association of Malaysia. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
17. Muhammad Zakwan, Nazaraly (7 September 2025). "Richard Chin harap debut bersama Harimau Malaya lawan Palestin" [Richard Chin hopes for debut with Harimau Malaya against Palestine]. Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
18. Rizar, Mohd Noor (8 September 2025). "Figueiredo wira Harimau Malaya" [Figueiredo hero for Harimau Malaya]. Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
19. "Goal and Highlights: Malaysia vs Palestine in Friendly (1–0)". VAVEL. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
20. "Saya lafazkan Syahadah tahun lalu -- Richard Chin" [I recited the Shahadah last year — Richard Chin]. Stadium Astro (in Malay). 10 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
21. "Harimau Malaya's Richard Chin reveals conversion to Islam". Malay Mail. 11 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
22. Lee, Seng Foo (8 September 2025). "TIL Richard Chin is a Muslim". X. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
23. Syazwan Msar (8 September 2025). "Richard Chin kejutkan peminat, rupanya seorang Muslim" [Richard Chin surprises fans, turns out to be a Muslim]. Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
24. Richard Chin at Soccerway
25. For FA Cup Second Qualifying Round: "Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Walton & Hersham 2 - 1 Farnborough". Football Web Pages. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.