‘We always want to be the hardest-working people’ – Crystal Palace signing Chris Richards on his upbringing

New Crystal Palace signing Chris Richards has explained how his upbringing has given him the motivation to do well in his career.

The centre-back, 22, has signed a five-year contract with the Eagles and joins from Bayern Munich.

The USA international spent last season on loan at Hoffenheim.

Richards’ father Ken played professional basketball in Australia, Bolivia and Iceland after a successful college career in the States.

Speaking to Hoffenheim’s YouTube channel last season, Richards said: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – it’s this American fight we have in us, we always want to be the hardest working people.

“We always want to show people – they always count us out especially in football.

“I played basketball until I was 16. I took a trip with Argentina and I came back and I looked at my dad and I told him that I didn’t want to play basketball anymore.

“It was just football for me. It was a struggle at first, because he doesn’t know much about football – but he was really supportive of my decision.

“I did training at Dallas the year before I made the team and they told me I wasn’t good enough to make the team and maybe I could come back the next year.

“My dad always told me that you have to show them why they made a mistake and my family were not people who give up, so it was never a sign for me to give up – it was a time for me to work even harder.

“I went to another team in Houston and we beat FC Dallas that year and then the next year Dallas came calling.

“Before I played in defence [my idol was] Cristiano Ronaldo, but since I’ve turned into a centre-half, Jerome Boateng was my idol.

“With the stock market crash back in mid-2000’s, it was hard on my family – but they always somehow found a way for me to keep playing these sports because in the US it costs money.

“My motivation is one day hopefully I can make enough money so that I can repay them and show them that it meant a lot to me.”

Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “Chris is a hugely-talented young player, and he brings a lot of experience at a high level for his age, as well being an established international for the USA national side.

“I had the great pleasure of spending some time with him and his family yesterday and I know he will be a great fit for the club and I’m sure will become a firm fans’ favourite.”

PICTURES: CPFC