.jpg) Richards in July 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rico Dean Scott Richards[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 September 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | West Bromwich, England[2] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Stockport County (on loan from Aston Villa) | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2021 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2023 | West Bromwich Albion | 1 | (0) |
| 2023– | Aston Villa | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Stockport County (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | England U16 | 4 | (1) |
| 2019 | England U17 | 3 | (1) |
| 2020 | England U18 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:14, 22 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:34, 3 July 2023 (UTC) | |||
Rico Dean Scott Richards (born 27 September 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Stockport County, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa.
Richards is a product of the West Bromwich Albion academy but only made two senior appearances for the club before departing on a free transfer to Aston Villa in July 2023. He has previously represented England at U16, U17, and U18 levels.
Richards joined the youth academy of West Bromwich Albion as a seven year old, and signed his first professional contract with the club on 4 August 2020.[4] He made his debut for the club on 25 August 2021, starting in a 6–0 EFL Cup second round defeat to Arsenal.[5][6] Richards made his league debut for the club on 3 March 2023, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute in a 2–0 loss away at Hull.[7]
On 3 July 2023, Richards joined Aston Villa on a free transfer after the expiry of his West Bromwich Albion contract.[8]
On 18 January 2024, he joined League Two leaders Stockport County on loan until the end of the season.[9] On 29 March 2024, Richards scored his first goal in senior football, in a 3–0 league victory over Forest Green Rovers.[10]
Richards has represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 international levels.[4]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2020–21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Aston Villa | 2023–24 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Stockport County (loan) | 2023–24 | League Two | 10 | 1 | – | – | – | 10 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 2 | ||
West Bromwich Albion U23