Defender
Chris Richards
6'2"
Profile of USMNT defender Chris Richards. Full career stats, club history (Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim, Crystal Palace), and US Soccer Players news analysis.
Caps: 35 | Goals: 2
Chris Richards started his professional soccer career with FC Dallas in April 2018, quickly moving on loan to Bayern Munich in July. That move became permanent in January 2019. Establishing himself with Bayern Munich II during the 2019-20 3.Liga season, Richards played his first league game for Bayern Munich during the rescheduled season on June 20, 2020. Richards won his first USMNT caps during the November 2020 window. He eventually played five league games for Bayern before moving to Hoffenheim on loan during the 2021-22 season and staying with them through 2021-22. Richards completed a transfer to Premier League club Crystal Palace for the 2022-23 season. He won the 2024-25 FA Cup with the club and the 2025 Community Shield. Richards won US Soccer’s Male Player of the Year award for 2025.
Photos by ISIPhotos.com
Credit: Chris Putman - ISIPhotos.comUSMNT Experience
2026
Named US Soccer Male Player of the Year on January 14, becoming the second consecutive defender to win the award.
2025
Started the Nations League semifinal against Panama on Mar 20 (1-0 L). Started the Jun 7 friendly against Turkey (2-1 L). In the Gold Cup, started in the 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Jun 15, the 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Jun 19 where he scored the game's only goal, and the 2-1 win over Haiti on Jun 22 to close out the group stage. Started the quarterfinal against Costa Rica on Jun 29, drawing 2-2 and advancing 4-3 on penalties. Started the 2-1 semifinal win over Guatemala on Jul 2 and the 2-1 final loss to Mexico on Jul 6. Subbed on in the 2-0 loss to Korea on Sep 6 and started the 2-0 win over Japan on Sep 9. Started in the 1-1 draw against Ecuador on Oct 10 and the 2-1 win over Australia on Oct 14.
2024
Started the 3-1 Nations League semifinal win over Jamaica on Mar 21 and the 2-0 final win over Mexico on Mar 24. Started against Colombia on Jun 8 (5-1 L) and Brazil on Jun 12 (1-1 D). Started all three Copa America group C games: the 2-0 win over Bolivia on Jun 23, the 1-2 loss to Panama on Jun 27, and the 0-1 loss to Uruguay on Jul 1. Started in friendlies against Canada on Sep 7 (2-1 L) and New Zealand on Sep 10 (1-1 D).
2023
Started the 3-0 Nations League semifinal win over Mexico on Jun 15. Started and scored in the 2-0 Nations League final win over Canada on Jun 18. Started friendlies against Uzbekistan (3-0 win, Sep 9), Oman (4-0 win, Sep 12), and Ghana (4-0 win, Oct 17).
2022
Started the 1-0 win over El Salvador on Jan 27 and the 2-0 loss to Canada on Jan 30.
2021
Subbed on in friendlies against Jamaica (4-1 win, Mar 25) and Northern Ireland (2-1 win, Mar 28). In World Cup Qualifying, he started the 2-1 win over Costa Rica on October 13. Subbed on in the 2-0 win over Mexico on Nov 12 and started the 1-1 draw against Jamaica on Nov 16.
2020
Made his senior debut on Nov 12, subbing on in a 0-0 draw against Wales. He earned his first start four days later in a 6-2 win over Panama on Nov 16.
Credit: John Patrick Fletcher - APS via ZUMA Press Wire - ISIPhotos.comProfessional Experience
2025-26
Started and won the FA Community Shield in August 2025.
2024-25
Played in 24 Premier League games, finishing 12th with Crystal Palace. Palace won the FA Cup, qualifying for Europe.
2023-24
Made 26 appearances with Crystal Palace in the Premier League, finishing 10th.
2022-23
Played in nine games for Crystal Palace, finishing 11th in the Premier League.
2021-22
Richards made one appearance for Bayern Munich before returning on loan to TSG Hoffenheim for the season. He made 19 Bundesliga appearances, helping Hoffenheim finish 9th.
2020-21
Richards began the season with Bayern Munich, making three senior appearances and eight for the reserve side. In February, he joined TSG Hoffenheim on loan, where he made 11 appearances and helped the team finish 11th in the Bundesliga.
2019-20
Played in 30 games for Bayern Munich II in the 3.Liga, scoring four goals. Played one game for Bayern Munich on Jun 20 with the second-half of the season rescheduled.
Youth and College
Richards grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, before moving to Texas to join the FC Dallas academy in 2017. He signed a Homegrown Player contract in 2018 but was almost immediately loaned to Bayern Munich and began his career in Europe.
