Incoming: Chris Richards
(Picture: Getty Images)Crystal Palace have agreed a deal to sign Bayern Munich defender Chris Richards in a deal worth an initial £8.5million.
The fee for the 22-year-old, who spent last season on loan at fellow German outfit Hoffenheim, could eventually rise to £11m with add-ons.
Richards signed for Bayern from FC Dallas in 2019 but has gone on to make just ten first-team appearances for the Bundesliga champions.
The American international quickly became a regular at Hoffenheim before seeing the second half of his campaign disrupted by injury and has returned to Bayern to find himself shunted further down the pecking order by the arrival of Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus.
He will become Palace’s third major signing of the summer after midfielder Cheick Doucoure and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, while promising 18-year-old forward Malcolm Ebiowei has also joined from Derby.
Speaking during Palace’s pre-season tour of Australia earlier this week, however, Eagles boss Patrick Vieira stressed the need for more additions.
“I still believe we are short in the number of players that we have,” he said. “Hopefully we will make a couple more signings and that will help us to be more ambitious.”
