Dujuan Richards

Dujuan Odile Richards (born 10 November 2005) is a Jamaican footballer who plays as a forward for Chelsea and the Jamaica national team.

Dujuan "Whisper" Richards
Personal information
Full name Dujuan Odile Richards[1]
Date of birth (2005-11-10) 10 November 2005
Place of birth Port Royal, Jamaica
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea
Youth career
2017–2023 Phoenix Academy
2023– Chelsea
International career‡
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Jamaica 10 (1)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 June 2023

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]

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]

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.[10] He went on to make his debut in the match on 12 March.[11]

In June 2023, Richards was named to the final squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[12] 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.[13] He became the youngest goalscorer for Jamaica in CONCACAF Gold Cup.[14]

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.[15]

Career statistics

International
As of match played 28 June 2023.[16]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Jamaica 2023101
Total101
Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Richards goal.[16]
List of international goals scored by Dujuan Richards
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
128 June 2023CityPark, St. Louis, United States Trinidad and Tobago4–14–12023 CONCACAF Gold Cup

References
  1. Dujuan Richards at Soccerway
  2. Cusack, Richard (12 March 2023). "Who is Dujuan Richards? Chelsea seal 'pre-contract' transfer for Jamaican goal machine". football.london. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  3. 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.
  4. "'Whisper' wins senior call-up after stellar schoolboy football campaign". jamaicaobserver.com. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. "Dujuan Richards on Instagram: "💙💙#uptheblues💙"". Instagram. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  8. "Richards recruited". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  9. "Chelsea sign teenage Jamaica striker Richards" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  10. Reid, Paul (11 March 2023). "'HE'S READY'". jamaicaobserver.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  11. Reid, Paul (11 March 2023). "T&T edge Reggae Boyz 1-0 in friendly international". jamaicaobserver.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  12. Wheeler, Daniel (19 June 2023). "Demarai Gray named to Gold Cup squad". The Gleaner.
  13. Mayo, Marc (29 June 2023). "Dujuan Richards gives Chelsea glimpse of potential with first Jamaica goal days after signing".
  14. Stokes, Jake (29 June 2023). "Chelsea wonderkid sends message as Pochettino gifted 'next Bolt' transfer option". Football.London. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  15. 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.
  16. Dujuan Richards at National-Football-Teams.com
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