Another American commits to the Bundesliga with Bayern's signing of Chris Richards
- Chuck Smith
- Jan 24, 2019
- 2 min read
Bayern Munich announced a formal transfer of Chris Richards from FC Dallas earlier today. The 19-year-old center back had spend the second half of 2018 on loan in Bavaria from FC Dallas and showed well enough to warrant a four-and-a-half year deal from the German giants.
Richards is the latest of the "next generation" Americans to make the move to Germany following Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic, Schalke's Weston McKennie and Haji Wright, Werder Bremen's Josh Sargent, and Hertha Berlin's Jonathan Klinsmann among others.
Pulisic will be moving on to Chelsea in July, but Germany has proven to be a great developmental pathway for some of America's best young talent.
Richards earned the deal with Bayern after an impressive loan stint that saw him feature for the first team during the International Champions Cup preseason tour and primarily for Bayern's U19 squad in the Hinrunde. Richards was also called up to Bayern Munich II, but did not see any action.
At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Richards has great size and agility, but will surely be looking to improve his physical strength in hopes of being ready for the rigors of the rough-and-tumble Bundesliga when he earns the call to the first team. Richards also displayed great confidence and poise on the ball, while also showing excellent positional awareness during his initial stint in Germany.
With veteran defenders Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng still capable, and 23-year-old Niklas Sule regarded as one of the game's top young center backs, the roster depth in Munich is already fairly solid. With French World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard scheduled to arrive from VfB Stuttgart next summer, yet another quality option will be in the mix on the back line. Pavard, of course, has the capability to also play right back, so his versatility could see him land in a few different roles.
Regardless, Richards will now be counted on to develop into one of the future options on the back line for Bayern. With fellow prospect Lars Lukas Mai also having shown some great ability, plus the current crop of defenders, Bayern's defensive unit could be solid and deep for years to come.
Comments