Rico Richards

Rico Richards

Richards in July 2022
Personal information
Full name	Rico Dean Scott Richards [1]
Date of birth	(2003-09-27) 27 September 2003 (age 21) [2]
Place of birth	West Bromwich, England [3]
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.82 m) [4]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Port Vale (on loan from Aston Villa)
Number	26
Youth career
2010–2020	West Bromwich Albion
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2023	West Bromwich Albion	1	(0)
2023–	Aston Villa	0	(0)
2024	→ Stockport County (loan)	11	(1)
2024–	→ Port Vale (loan)	13	(2)
International career
2019	England U16	4	(1)
2019	England U17	3	(1)
2020	England U18	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:38, 15 December 2024 (UTC)

Rico Dean Scott Richards (born 27 September 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Port Vale, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa. He has represented England up to under-18 level.

Richards is a product of the Academy at West Bromwich Albion, where he turned professional in August 2020. He played two matches for the club before he joined Aston Villa on a free transfer in July 2023. He spent the second half of the 2023–24 season on loan at Stockport County, who finished as champions of League Two. He returned to League Two on loan at Port Vale for the 2024–25 season.

Club career

West Bromwich Albion

Richards joined the youth academy of West Bromwich Albion as a seven-year-old and signed his first professional (three-year) contract with the club in August 2020. ^[5] Both Manchester United and local rivals Aston Villa had attempted to sign him to a professional contract before he opted to pledge his future to the Albion. ^[6] Academy manager Richard Stevens described him as an "elite talent, in the same bracket as Morgan Rogers, Izzy Brown and Tyler Roberts". ^[7] He was first named on the first-team bench by Slaven Bilić in January 2020. ^[7] He helped Albion to reach the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in 2021. ^[8] He made his senior debut for West Brom on 25 August 2021, starting in a 6–0 EFL Cup second round defeat to Arsenal at The Hawthorns in a game where manager Valérien Ismaël blooded a lot of young talent against an experienced Gunners team. ^{[7] [9]} He helped the youth team to win the Premier League Cup at the end of the 2021–22 campaign, though in the final he missed his penalty in the shoot-out against Black Country rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. ^[7]

Richards made his Championship debut for the club on 3 March 2023, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute in a 2–0 loss away at Hull City. ^[10] He said afterwards he was grateful to manager Carlos Corberán for the opportunity. ^[7] He ended the 2022–23 season with four goals and five assists from 20 games for the under-21 side. ^[11]

Aston Villa

On 3 July 2023, Richards signed a two-year contract with Aston Villa after joining on a free transfer after the expiry of his West Bromwich Albion contract. ^[12] On 18 January 2024, he joined League Two leaders Stockport County on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season. ^[13] Fellow Villan Louie Barry was already on loan at Edgeley Park. ^[14] He initially made only cameo appearances, with manager Dave Challinor commenting on his initial shyness and apparent lack of confidence, though he found greater first-team opportunities following an injury to Barry. ^[15] On 29 March, Richards scored his first goal in senior football, in a 3–0 league victory at Forest Green Rovers. ^[16] He made three starts and eight substitute appearances, helping the Hatters to win promotion as champions of League Two. ^[2]

On 30 August 2024, Richards returned to League Two on a season-long loan with Port Vale. ^[17]

International career

Richards has represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 international levels. ^[5] He also trained with the under-19 squad, though the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe limited the amount of fixtures available. ^[18]

Style of play

Richards is a midfielder with a low centre of gravity and excellent dribbling ability. ^[7]

Career statistics

As of match played 14 December 2024

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
West Bromwich Albion U21	2020–21 [19]	—			—		—		2 [a]	0	2	0
West Bromwich Albion	2021–22 [20]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2022–23 [21]	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	4	0
Aston Villa U21	2023–24 [22]	—			—		—		3 [a]	1	3	1
Stockport County (loan)	2023–24 [2]	League Two	11	1	—		—		—		11	1
Port Vale (loan)	2024–25 [23]	League Two	13	2	1	0	—		3 [a]	1	17	3
Career total			25	3	1	0	1	0	8	2	35	5

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

West Bromwich Albion U23

• Premier League Cup: 2021–22 ^[24]

Stockport County

• EFL League Two: 2023–24 ^[2]

References

1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
2. Rico Richards at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
3. Madeley, Steve. "Who is Rico Richards and why is his new deal so important for West Brom?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
4. "Rico Richards Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more". FBref.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
5. "Rico pledges future to Albion | West Bromwich Albion". West Bromwich Albion FC. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
6. Chapman, Joseph (4 August 2020). "Albion fight off Villa and Man United to secure Richards signing". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
7. Chapman, Joseph (3 July 2023). "All you need to know about Aston Villa new signing Rico Richards". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
8. Chapman, Joseph (3 March 2023). "Rico Richards profile as latest talent makes the Albion squad". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
9. Chapman, Joseph (25 August 2021). "West Brom v Arsenal team news as Ismael hands out five debuts". Birmingham Mail . Retrieved 25 August 2021.
10. Hoad, Alex (2 March 2023). "Relive Hull's win over West Brom as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
11. Veysey, Wayne (24 June 2023). "Aston Villa in advanced talks to sign West Brom star Richards - sources". Football Insider. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
12. "Rico Richards joins Villa Academy". Aston Villa Football Club. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
13. Richardson, Liam (18 January 2024). "Villa forward joins on loan". Stockport County FC. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
14. Wilkins, Max (14 April 2024). "Aston Villa: Louie Barry and Rico Richards earn EFL promotion". Villa News. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
15. Stronge, Isaac Stacey (21 March 2024). "Aston Villa loanee showing how he can replace Louie Barry at Stockport County: View". FootballLeagueWorld. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
16. "Forest Green Rovers 0-3 Stockport County". BBC Sport. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
17. "Southampton sign Port Vale's Dipepa as Hackford & Richards arrive". BBC Sport. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
18. "Richards & Ingram included in England U19 training camp | West Bromwich Albion". West Bromwich Albion FC. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
19. "Games played by Rico Richards in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
20. "Games played by Rico Richards in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
21. "Games played by Rico Richards in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
22. "Games played by Rico Richards in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
23. "Games played by Rico Richards in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
24. Masi, Joseph (13 May 2022). "West Brom win Black Country derby PL Cup final in dramatic penalty shoot-out". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 2 September 2024.