Chris Richards has become the latest young U.S. men’s national team player to secure a move to the Premier League, with the center back leaving Bayern Munich for Crystal Palace in a summer transfer worth a reported $15 million (with add-ons potentially taking it to $20 million).
The 22-year-old Richards, who spent the last season and a half on loan from Bayern to fellow Bundesliga club Hoffenheim, follows Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Tyler Adams (Leeds) and Matt Turner (Arsenal) in securing moves to top-flight English clubs ahead of the World Cup. They join Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) and Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream (Fulham) in England’s top flight. Richards will play under an accomplished professional, with former France and Arsenal great Patrick Vieira at the helm of the Eagles. Richards’ new deal ties him to the club, which lifts the curtain on the Premier League season against Arsenal on Aug. 5, through 2027.
“I think we showed [with this deal] that we can attract players. When you look at the number of teams that were behind him and he decided to come to us, I think this is a really strong statement,” Vieira said after a preseason draw vs. Leeds United in Australia on Friday. “He’s going to give us different options at the back and competitiveness between players. I’m really pleased that an important player like that decided to come to Palace.”
