Chelsea looking to sign Bayern Munich and USA youth international defender Chris Richards — reports

Chelsea don’t have a long history of American soccer football players, with Christian Pulisic and Matt Miazga the only two ever from the USA to play for the team (Roy Wegerle had not yet acquired America citizenship when he played for the club).

However, if there’s an opportunity to sign a talented American player, the club will no doubt explore it, and not just because of the sporting reasons, but because of the potential marketing benefit involved as well.

One such player could be Bayern Munich’s young defender Chris Richards. According to reports by BILD and Sports BILD (yes, different papers), Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and Valencia are all vying for the 20-year-old’s signature.

Richards signed for Bayern Munich’s academy team in January 2019 from FC Dallas after a 6-month loan stint. He started off as a centre back but has been playing mostly as a right back recently, with 12 of his 22 appearances this season coming in that position. He has been capped at the U23 level for the United States of America, but is yet to play for their senior team.

While Richards has 22 appearances for Bayern Munich II in the German third division, he is yet to make an appearance for the senior team. He did join first-team training sessions regularly before the COVID-19 pandemic, but he is now at an age where he will start expecting game-time as well. Whichever club decides to make a move for him will undoubtedly need to give him assurances of playing time at the senior level. That may not be something we can readily give, unless one of our current non-left backs leaves in the next transfer window.