Jamaican footballer (born 2005)
Dujuan Richards Full name
Dujuan Odile Richards[ 1] Date of birth
(2005-11-10 ) 10 November 2005 (age 19) Place of birth
Port Royal , Jamaica Height
1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[ 1] Position(s)
Forward Current team
Chelsea 2017–2023
Phoenix Academy 2024–
Chelsea Years
Team
Apps
(Gls ) 2023–
Jamaica
10
(1)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 October 2023
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 .
Club career
Richards 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
In 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
Richards' 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
Richards 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
International
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]
References
^ 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