Dujuan Odile Richards (born 10 November 2005) is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Chelsea and the Jamaica national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dujuan Odile Richards[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 November 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Port Royal, Jamaica | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Chelsea | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2017–2023 | Phoenix Academy | ||
| 2024– | Chelsea | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Jamaica | 10 | (1) |
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 October 2023 | |||
Club career
editRichards was born in Port Royal.[2] He started his career with the Phoenix Football Academy at the age of eleven where he remained right up to his signing with Chelsea.[3] He also represented the Kingston College during the high schools competition Manning Cup in Jamaica, and spent time with the Brooke House College’s football academy in Leicestershire, England.[4][5]
Following impressive performances on several tours of Europe, he went on trial in Premier League side Newcastle United in February 2023.[6] Richards was quoted as saying he was "expecting to hear positively” from the Magpies.[5]
Chelsea
editIn March 2023, it was reported that Richards signed a pre-contract deal with Chelsea.[3][7] On 24 June 2023, it was announced that Richards would join the club after his 18th birthday.[8][9] The move was officially completed on 12 January 2024.[10]
On 8 February 2024, Richards debuted for Chelsea u18s in a FA Youth Cup tie.[11]
International career
editRichards' grandmother is English, and was eligible to represent England at international level.[5]
In March 2023, Richards was called up to the Jamaican senior team for a friendly game against Trinidad and Tobago, with manager Heimir Hallgrímsson stating that he was "ready" to represent the nation, despite his young age.[12] He went on to make his debut in the match on 12 March.[13]
In June 2023, Richards was named to the final squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[14] In Jamaica's second match of the tournament against Trinidad and Tobago on June 28, he scored his first goal, netting the final tally in a 4–1 victory.[15] He became the youngest goalscorer for Jamaica in CONCACAF Gold Cup.[16]
Personal life
editRichards hails from a sporting family, with uncle Nick playing basketball professionally in the NBA for the Charlotte Hornets, while another uncle, O'Neil, represented the nation in cricket.[17]
Career statistics
editInternational
edit- As of match played 16 October 2023.[18]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | 2023 | 10 | 1 |
| Total | 10 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Richards goal.[18]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 June 2023 | CityPark, St. Louis, United States |  Trinidad and Tobago |
4–1 | 4–1 | 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
References
edit- ^ a b Dujuan Richards at Soccerway
- ^ Cusack, Richard (12 March 2023). "Who is Dujuan Richards? Chelsea seal 'pre-contract' transfer for Jamaican goal machine". football.london. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ a b Knight, Chris (11 March 2023). "Chelsea steal wonderkid who 'expected' to be Newcastle's next signing after transfer u-turn". chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "'Whisper' wins senior call-up after stellar schoolboy football campaign". jamaicaobserver.com. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ a b c Knight, Chris (9 March 2023). "Meet the exciting striker 'expecting' to be Newcastle's next signing and holds Alan Shearer ambition". chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ Knight, Chris (16 February 2023). "The inside story of Newcastle trialist who snubbed lucrative transfer for shot at Magpies dream". chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Dujuan Richards on Instagram: "💙💙#uptheblues💙"". Instagram. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "Richards recruited". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "Chelsea sign teenage Jamaica striker Richards" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Dujuan Richards completes Chelsea move". chelseafc.com. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Dujuan Richards interview: The story behind Whisper, his Chelsea dream, and Sterling influence". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Reid, Paul (11 March 2023). "'HE'S READY'". jamaicaobserver.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ Reid, Paul (11 March 2023). "T&T edge Reggae Boyz 1-0 in friendly international". jamaicaobserver.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ Wheeler, Daniel (19 June 2023). "Demarai Gray named to Gold Cup squad". The Gleaner.
- ^ Mayo, Marc (29 June 2023). "Dujuan Richards gives Chelsea glimpse of potential with first Jamaica goal days after signing".
- ^ Stokes, Jake (29 June 2023). "Chelsea wonderkid sends message as Pochettino gifted 'next Bolt' transfer option". Football.London. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ Kinsella, Nizaar (14 March 2023). "Who is Dujuan 'Whisper' Richards? Chelsea pip Newcastle to signing of 31-goal striker in latest youth drive". standard.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ a b Dujuan Richards at National-Football-Teams.com