Chris Richards

#3 · Defender · age 26

FA Cup winner 2025; likely starting centre-back

Club

Crystal Palace

England · Premier League

Caps

Intl goals

WC26 rating

high confidence

Recent form: 63
Career peak: 63
League level: 100
Competition pedigree: 76
International pedigree: 78
Longevity: 69

Independent rating — league strength (Opta-anchored) × competition tier × position-normalized output. Not affiliated with EA or FIFA.

Career by season

Season	Club	Competition	Apps	Gls	Ast	Rating
25/26	Crystal Palace	Premier League	33	1	0	6.88
24/25	Crystal Palace	Premier League	24	1	0	6.87
23/24	Crystal Palace	Premier League	26	1	1	6.88
22/23	Crystal Palace	Premier League	9	0	0	6.71
25/26	Crystal Palace	UEFA Conference League	12	0	0	7.20
2025	USA	CONCACAF Gold Cup	6	2	0	7.23
24/25	USA	CONCACAF Nations League	1	0	0	7.20
2024	USA	Copa América	3	0	0	7.00

Source: sofascore · fetched 2026-05-29

Richards is the most likely starting centre-back in Pochettino’s back three or back four, with Miles Robinson and Tim Ream as his most likely partners. He gives the US a defender who is genuinely comfortable against Premier League-tier strikers, which matters once the bracket opens up. If Pochettino plays a back three, Richards almost certainly takes the right-sided slot where his recovery pace is most useful.

Strengths

recovery pace against pacey forwards
front-foot defending into the channels
aerial duels in the box
ball-playing range out of the back

Recent form

Premier League starter through 2025-26; integral to Palace's continued top-half push after their 2025 FA Cup win.

Scored a header in the 2025 FA Cup final to help Palace lift their first major trophy.