Chris Richards

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

Richards began his career as a youth player for FC Dallas and moved to the youth academy of Bayern Munich in 2018, signing professionally with them one year later. He played for the club's reserve team before being promoted to the senior squad in 2020, going on loan spells to TSG Hoffenheim. He was signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace in July 2022, where he won the 2024–25 FA Cup, the club's first major trophy, and the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League, the club's first European title.

Featuring in several youth levels 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. He was also named the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year for 2025.

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. He then rejoined FC Dallas Academy in 2017.

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

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. As a result of his performance during the trial, in July he was offered a one-year loan with the German club.

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. 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. On January 19, 2019, Richards signed a $1.5 million permanent contract with FC Bayern Munich. 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. He made 30 appearances and scoring 4 goals for Bayern II in a team that won the 3. Liga.

On June 20, 2020, Richards made his Bundesliga debut in a 3–1 victory over Freiburg. On September 18, he made his first appearance of the 2020–21 Bundesliga season in Bayern's opening match against Schalke 04. 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.

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. Richards was named to the 2020 IFFHS World Youth (U20) Team. On August 30, he returned to Hoffenheim on a season-long loan deal.

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.

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. He scored his first goal for the club on February 24, 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.

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. He scored his second goal for the club in a 5–2 defeat to Manchester City on April 12. 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. He was the only Crystal Palace player to have played every minute of every match in the competition. He also became just the second American to play in and win an FA Cup final, after Tim Howard in 2004.

On May 27, 2026, Richards won the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League, the club's first ever European trophy. He became the first American to win the competition, completing the trifecta of Americans winning all three major European trophies after Jovan Kirovski won the UEFA Champions League in 1997 and Timothy Chandler won the UEFA Europa League in 2022.

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. 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". He, then, started in two of the tournament's three remaining matches, including the final, a 2–0 win, against Mexico. 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).

He received his first call up to the senior United States squad for matches against Wales and Panama in November 2020. He made his national team debut as a late substitute against Panama. Richards missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to a hamstring injury. He scored his first goal for his country on June 18, 2023, scoring the first goal of United States' 2–0 win against Canada in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final. At the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Richards was among the few regular U.S. starters in an otherwise inexperienced squad that ultimately finished as runners-up. He scored the winning goal against Saudi Arabia and also scored in the final against Mexico. He was named on the team of the tournament and was praised for his performances.

On May 26, 2026, Richards was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the opening 4–1 group stage win over Paraguay, Richards completed a perfect 83 passes with 100% accuracy during the match, the highest by any player in a World Cup since 1966.

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

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Richards goal.

Honors Bayern Munich Bundesliga: 2019–20 DFL-Supercup: 2020, 2021 UEFA Super Cup: 2020

Crystal Palace FA Cup: 2024–25 FA Community Shield: 2025 UEFA Conference League: 2025–26

United States U20 CONCACAF U-20 Championship: 2018

United States CONCACAF Nations League: 2022–23, 2023–24

Individual IFFHS World Youth (U20) Team: 2020 CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2025