Chris Rigg
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2007)}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Chris John Rigg
| image =
| upright =
| caption =
| full_name = Christopher John Rigg{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/chris-rigg/|title=Chris Rigg|publisher=WorldFootball.net|accessdate=7 January 2023}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|6|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hebburn, England
| height = {{convert|1.77|m|order=flip}}
| currentclub = Sunderland
| clubnumber = 11
| position = Attacking midfielder
| youthyears1 = 2017–2023
| youthclubs1 = Sunderland
| years1 = 2023–
| clubs1 = Sunderland
| caps1 = 63
| goals1 = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2022
| nationalteam1 = England U15
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2022–2023
| nationalteam2 = England U16
| nationalcaps2 = 9
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2022–2024
| nationalteam3 = England U17
| nationalcaps3 = 14
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| nationalyears4 = 2023–
| nationalteam4 = England U18
| nationalcaps4 = 7
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2025–
| nationalteam5 = England U19
| nationalcaps5 = 4
| nationalgoals5 = 1
| club-update = 17:07, 3 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 15:54, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Christopher John Rigg (born 18 June 2007) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|Sunderld}} club Sunderland.
Club career
=Early life=
Born in Hebburn,{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Wilson|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23237130.chris-rigg---sunderlands-youngest-outfield-player/|title=Who is Chris Rigg - Sunderland's youngest outfield player|date=9 January 2023|accessdate=9 January 2023|website=thenorthernecho.co.uk|archive-date=9 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109103116/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23237130.chris-rigg---sunderlands-youngest-outfield-player/|url-status=live}} Rigg joined Sunderland while still in primary school.
=Sunderland=
With Sunderland facing numerous injuries in their squad, Rigg was named on the bench for the EFL Championship game against Blackpool on 1 January 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/the-story-of-chris-riggs-remarkable-sunderland-call-up-and-what-happens-next-3971605|title=The story of Chris Rigg's remarkable Sunderland call-up - and what happens next|first=Phil|last=Smith|date=2 January 2023|accessdate=7 January 2023|website=sunderlancecho.com|archive-date=7 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107164928/https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/the-story-of-chris-riggs-remarkable-sunderland-call-up-and-what-happens-next-3971605|url-status=live}} Less than a week later, he was again named on the bench, alongside fellow young player Tom Watson, for an FA Cup third round game against Shrewsbury Town, with manager Tony Mowbray saying Rigg was "really impressive", having watched him train with the first team.{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-15-year-old-chris-25904495|title=Sunderland 15-year-old Chris Rigg ready for debut as Tony Mowbray makes 'impressive' statement|first=James|last=Hunter|date=5 January 2023|accessdate=7 January 2023|website=chroniclelive.co.uk|archive-date=6 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106121321/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-15-year-old-chris-25904495|url-status=live}}
Rigg made his professional debut in the game against Shrewsbury Town on 7 January 2023, coming on as a substitute for Édouard Michut in a 2–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64167957|title=Shrewsbury Town 1–2 Sunderland|date=7 January 2023|accessdate=7 January 2023|website=BBC Sport|archive-date=7 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107124502/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64167957|url-status=live}} In doing so, he became the second youngest player in Sunderland history, behind Derek Forster. Following his debut, he was promoted to the Sunderland first team, having to train with the squad only one or two days a week, as he was still in school at the time.{{cite web |url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/pretty-sure-tony-mowbray-explains-the-next-steps-in-chris-riggs-incredible-sunderland-journey-3978253|title='Pretty sure': Tony Mowbray explains the next steps in Chris Rigg's incredible Sunderland journey|first=Phil|last=Smith|date=8 January 2023 |accessdate=9 January 2023|website=sunderlandecho.com|archive-date=9 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109133249/https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/pretty-sure-tony-mowbray-explains-the-next-steps-in-chris-riggs-incredible-sunderland-journey-3978253|url-status=live}} Rigg's second appearance came in the following round of the FA Cup against Fulham, replacing Patrick Roberts in the 86th minute. In injury time, with the score at 1–1, he received a cut back from Abdoullah Ba before firing a shot into the roof of the Fulham net, only to have the goal disallowed due to Ba being offside.{{cite web |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chris-rigg-sunderland-fa-cup-26101073|title=Chris Rigg denied 'incredible' Fulham moment as Sunderland earn FA Cup replay|first=Matty|last=Hewitt|date=29 January 2023|accessdate=29 January 2023|website=chroniclelive.co.uk|archive-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129214718/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chris-rigg-sunderland-fa-cup-26101073|url-status=live}}
He scored his first competitive goal for Sunderland in an EFL Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra on 8 August 2023.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66368450 |title=Sunderland 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (pens 3-5) - Visitors win on penalties in Carabao Cup first round|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 August 2023|access-date=10 August 2023}} With this goal, he not only became Sunderland's youngest ever goalscorer, but also the youngest goalscorer in the competition's history.{{Cite web |last=EFL|date=9 August 2023|title=Sunderland's Chris Rigg makes Carabao Cup history|url=https://efl.com/news/2023/august/09/sunderland-s-chris-rigg-makes-carabao-cup-history-/|access-date=2 September 2023|website=EFL}} On 2 September, Rigg scored on his league debut against Southampton, netting the final goal in a 5–0 home win.{{Cite news |last=Newsum|first=Matt|date=2 September 2023|title=Sunderland put five past in-form Southampton|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66624468|access-date=20 September 2023}} In doing so he became Sunderland's youngest ever league goalscorer, breaking a record held by Jimmy Hamilton for over half a century.{{Cite web |last=Hunter|first=James|date=3 September 2023|title=Sunderland's teen star Chris Rigg rewrites the record books again|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderlands-teen-star-chris-rigg-27643862|access-date=20 September 2023|website=ChronicleLive|language=en}}
Rigg's back-heeled goal against Middlesbrough on 21 September 2024 earnt him the EFL Championship Goal of the Month award for September 2024.{{Cite web |last=EFL |date=2024-10-18 |title=Sky Bet Goal of the Month September winners |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/october/18/sky-bet-goal-of-the-month-september-winners/?fbclid=IwY2xjawF_WWFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaDqemGWjEYThyinBtSjlhUDaISGehLmGv2DY_MH7fEJ22aWjq8BdGm62g_aem_sAY3vYDfqZmL7QWZNqZjsQ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=EFL |language=en}} On 27 April 2025, he was named EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season.{{Cite web |last=EFL |date=2025-04-27 |title=LIVE: EFL Awards 2025 |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2025/april/27/live--efl-awards-2025/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=EFL |language=en}}
International career
Rigg has represented England at youth international level. He captained England at under-16 level, before being promoted to the under-17 squad while still only fifteen. He made his England U18 debut during a 1–1 draw with Belgium in Marbella on 11 October 2023.{{cite news |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Oct/11/england-mens-under-18s-belgium-report-marbella-football-centre-20231110|title=Report: Belgium 1–1 England MU18s|first=Nicholas|last=Veevers|website=EnglandFootball.com|date=11 October 2023|accessdate=12 October 2023}}
On 2 November 2023, Rigg was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Nov/02/england-mens-under-17-world-cup-squad-20231102|title=England squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup|first=Frank|last=Smith|website=EnglandFootball.com|date=2 November 2023|accessdate=12 November 2023}} He played his first game of the competition as a starter against Iran, winning the game 2–1.{{Cite web|accessdate=8 June 2024|title=England 2–1 Iran|date=14 November 2023|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/688172/iran-u17-england-u17|website=ESPN}} Rigg came off the bench as a substitute in their next group game against Brazil and then started in the round of sixteen defeat against Uzbekistan.{{Cite web|accessdate=8 June 2024|title=England 1–2 Brazil|date=17 November 2023|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/688184|website=ESPN}}{{Cite web|accessdate=8 June 2024|title=England 1–2 Uzbekistan|date=22 November 2023|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/688196/uzbekistan-u17-england-u17|website=ESPN}}
On 20 May 2024, Rigg was included in the England squad for the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/May/20/england-mens-under-17s-squad-named-for-EURO-Finals-in-cyprus-20242005|website=EnglandFootball.com|accessdate=21 May 2024|date=20 May 2024|first=Nicholas|last=Veevers|title=England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals}} He captained the side during the tournament including their quarter-final elimination by Italy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/May/30/england-mu17s-italy-u17-euro-quarter-final-20243005|website=EnglandFootball.com|accessdate=8 June 2024|date=30 May 2024|first=Juliet|last=Nottingham|title=Report: England MU17s 1–1 Italy (4–5 on pens)}}
On 19 March 2025, Rigg made his England U19 debut as a substitute during a 2–0 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification victory over Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2025/Mar/19/england-mens-under-19s-v-wales-euro-qualifying-match-report-20251903|website=EnglandFootball.com|accessdate=20 March 2025|date=19 March 2025|first=Duncan-Lee|last=Sulch|title=Report: Wales 0–2 England MU19s}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 21 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|chris-rigg/792190}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|EFL Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Sunderland
|0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2023–24
|Championship |21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 22 | 3 | ||
| 2024–25
|Championship |42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|Appearances in EFL Championship play-offs}} | 0 | 47 | 4 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!63||6||4||0||2||1||3||0||72||7 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sunderland A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rigg, Chris}}
Category:Footballers from Hebburn
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:English Football League players