PALACE SECURE CHRIS RICHARDS TRANSFER

London club Crystal Palace have completedthe signing of Chris Richards in time for the start of the new season. Palace play hosts to London rivals Arsenal next week Friday for the start of the new season and Richards could make his competitive debut for the Eagles during the game.

American international Richards has signed for Palace from Bayern Munich in a deal worth around £8.5m. He has put pen to paper on a five-year deal until the end of the 2026/27 season. Richards spent last season on loan at TSG Hoffenheim from Bayern Munich and he made the decision to leave the German champions upon his return to the club from the loan spell. He hadbeen at Hoffenheim since February 2021. The arrival of Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt pushed Richards further down in the centre back pecking order at the Allianz Arena thus aiding his exit.

Bayern made one of the most expensive signings this summer with the de Ligt transfer. The Bavarian giants signed the young Dutch defender from Italian Serie A side Juventus in a deal worth €80m including €10m in add-ons.
On signing for Palace, 22-year-old Richards expressed his delight in his first interview as a new player for the Eagles.According to him, he grew watching the Premier League and Palace teammate WilfriedZaha before adding that it would be cool to spend time on the pitch with Zaha and his other Palace teammates. Richards is fascinated with the numerous young players at Palace and that the young players have a lot of fight in them.
On Richards, Palace chairman Steve Parish said he's an established American international who has a lot of experience at his age. He's certain that the defender would be a good signing for the club.
New Palace star Richards has been at Bayern Munich since he joined the German Bundesliga side from FC Dallas in the Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2018.