Bundesliga
Richards pens permanent Bayern deal
Bayern Munich have followed up the signing of Alphonso Davies from the Vancouver Whitecaps with the arrival on a permanent contract of Chris Richards from FC Dallas.
The 18-year-old, who had previously penned a one-year loan agreement with the Bavarians after impressing during a trial last summer, has now committed his long-term future to the Bundesliga's record champions with a deal contract until June 2023.
"We're very pleased to have agreed the transfer of Chris from FC Dallas," said Jochen Sauer, head of the FC Bayern Campus. "Chris has made a really good impression in his six months here, and we're convinced he'll continue to progress well at Bayern. We see a great potential in him."
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Richards has made 21 appearances for the FCB U19s, and is thrilled with his permanent move. "I've always dreamed of playing at a big club in Europe," the defender told the club's website. "Now I'm at one of the top teams and am really happy."
Watch: Chris Richards signs his Bayern contract and discusses his future!
Yet to make his first-team debut in a competitive fixture, Richards caught the eye in the summer when he was thrown into the International Champions Cup by Niko Kovac and showed he could hold his own against some of the world's best forwards from the respective French, English and Italian champions Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Juventus.
Indeed, Bayern had a better record in the summer with Richards in their team than without him, conceding three goals and scoring four when he was on the field while conceding six and scoring just three when he was watching on from the sidelines.
Richards is the first signing from Bayern's partnership with Dallas in the USA, which sees the Bundesliga side assist the Major League Soccer club in youth development, but the second arrival from North America in recent weeks following Canadian winger Davies' move from Vancouver.