Born in the USA
After a remarkable two year journey from Alabama to Bayern Munich, Chris Richards fulfilled a lifelong dream when he moved to the Premier League with Crystal Palace in 2022.
26ChrisRichards
out on loan
Def
Defender
Date of Birth
28.03.0028 March 2000
Country
Joined Team
27.07.2227 July 2022
All time
Palace career
34
Appearances
1
Goals
Awards & Honours
IFFHS Men's World Youth Team
2020
Crystal Palace Player of the Month
January 2023
A full United States international, he possessed a remarkable CV at just 22-years-old, and has quickly become a key part of the Palace first-team squad, featuring in central defence, at right-back and in defensive midfield.
Born in Alabama, USA, Richards began his career near Houston before joining F.C. Dallas’ Academy and earning a professional contract there.
He moved to Houston and then Dallas aged 16 – both over 600 miles from his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where his parents still live – and initially lived alone with a host family. He then made the even larger jump of joining Bayern Munich aged 18, where he learnt fluent German and made his senior debut shortly after signing.
From here Richards’ rise was swift: he made his senior debut in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, his professional debut with Bayern Munich II in 2019, and his full Bayern debut in June 2020. A few months later he featured as a substitute in the German side’s DFL-Supercup win over Borussia Dortmund.
The young defender went on to represent Bayern in the Bundesliga and Champions League before joining 1899 Hoffenheim on loan in 2021. He has played a total of 82 professional matches.
Richards began his international career early, too, competing with the US Under-20s to win the CONCACAF U20 Championship aged 18. His performances at this level earned him a senior debut in November 2020, coming on as a substitute against Panama. Richards has since amassed seven further caps.
He made his debut for the Eagles at Anfield as a second-half substitute in August 2022. Richards went on to make his first start for the club, after a leg injury, in January 2023 in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Selhurst Park.
Commenting on his first start he said: “It was worth the wait! Being able to make it [my first Premier League start] at home, especially in a game like tonight, was amazing."
His performances against Manchester United home and away, along with keeping a clean sheet against Newcastle United, saw him win the club's Player of the Month award in January 2023.
He scored his first international goal in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League final at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Player Statistics2023/24
Goals1
Appearances24
01 / 04
Player StatisticsCareer
Goals1
Appearances34
Richards highlights
View All Videos- 02:59
Goal of the Month Contenders: February 2024
- 16:48
Extended Highlights: Crystal Palace 3-0 Burnley | Palace TV+
- 108:04
The Full 90 | Crystal Palace v Burnley | PalaceTV+
- 02:17
Chris Richards relives his first Palace goal
- 03:10
2 minute highlights: Crystal Palace 3-0 Burnley
- 02:22
Chris Richards on the home defeat to Chelsea
- 00:00
Super Bowl shopping with Chris Richards & David Ozoh
- 04:35
Players try Vegan Beef | Palace For The Planet
- 01:34
Chris Richards reflects on the Chelsea away fixture
- 01:27
Chris Richards on his first experience of Palace v Brighton
- 01:15
Chris Richards speaks to Palace TV after stepping into midfield
- 04:29
Detroit Music: Guess the song
- 03:52
Players try Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
- 17:01
Hodgson & Richards preview Millonarios