Expert: Crystal Palace pushing to agree new contract with 'incredible' star
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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media, Imago)
Callum O'Connell
Wed 24 September 2025 10:00, UK
Crystal Palace are planning to offer Chris Richards a new contract before the end of the season as a reward for his performances.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the 25-year-old has established himself as a key player under Oliver Glasner.
Richards‘ current contract is set to run until 2027, but Palace are keen to avoid a similar situation to the one they face with Marc Guehi, who expected to leave at the end of his deal.
The USA international has played every minute in the Premier League so far this season, and played a key role in Palace lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield.
Amid speculation about the futures of Guehi, Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta, Palace are determined to tie down some of their key players to new deals.
Credit: Imago
Football Insider revealed in March that Crystal Palace plan to keep their best players and are prepared to turn down offers in favour of keeping a strong squad.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted keeping hold of reliable players like Richards will be key to the Eagles’ future success.
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“Palace are determined to keep their best players at the club,” he told Football Insider.
“It’s something they have to be proactive with, getting these players tied down to long-term deals so they don’t end up a similar situation to the one they’re in with Guehi.
“When I look at the players at Crystal Palace, they’re very ambitious and all working for a single cause.
“Richards is somebody who has stood out aside from the usual star names likes Guehi and Mateta who are often spoken about at Palace.
“He’s exactly the type of player who makes this Palace squad what they are, he’s strong on the ground, strong in the air, quick, and most importantly he’s consistent, that’s why Glasner loves him.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
“As part of this squad, that’s how you build a side that picks up results consistently, believes in themselves, and has the ambition to keep pushing forward.
“For me, Richards sums up a lot of those positive attributes about Palace, and it’s so important to have players like that in the squad and in the team.
“So they’re doing all they can to keep their best assets at the club, they’ll look to get him tied down, and I expect he’ll want to stay because from what I see of him, he’s happy there.”
Richards’ importance to the side has not gone unnoticed at Selhurst Park, with plans to renew his contract seen as a reward for his contribution to their success.
Palace’s defensive structure has been the root of much of their success under Glasner, with Richards joining Guehi and Maxence Lacroix in a formidable back three.
The Eagles have kept five clean sheets from their nine games so far this season, and the boss has been extremely complimentary of the importance of their defensive shape.
Richards’ role in that has been key, ranking inside the top 10 per cent of players for tackles and blocks, while he is inside the top 25 per cent for both clearances and aerial duels.
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FC Dallas mamager Eric Quill, who coached Richards as a 16-year-old with Texans SC Houston, labelled the defender “incredible” thanks to his aerial ability.
[via ESPN]
Having established himself as a key member of Crystal Palace’s starting XI, Richards is believed to be happy at Selhurst Park with a new contract seemingly on the horizon.
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