Taylor Richards
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Taylor Richards
|image =
|caption =
|full_name = Taylor Jerome Richards{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/1335777 |title=2019/20 Premier League squads confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=3 September 2019 |access-date=5 January 2022}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|12|4|df=y}}
|birth_place = Hammersmith, England
|height = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/19928/Taylor-Richards/overview |title=Taylor Richards |publisher=Premier League |access-date=5 January 2022}}
|currentclub = Cambridge United
(on loan from Queens Park Rangers)
|clubnumber = 17
|position = Midfielder
|youthyears1 = 2009–2015
|youthclubs1 = Fulham
|youthyears2 = 2015–2019
|youthclubs2 = Manchester City
|youthyears3 = 2019–2020
|youthclubs3 = Brighton & Hove Albion
|years1 = 2019–2023
|clubs1 = Brighton & Hove Albion
|caps1 = 2
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2020–2021
|clubs2 = → Doncaster Rovers (loan)
|caps2 = 41
|goals2 = 10
|years3 = 2022
|clubs3 = → Birmingham City (loan)
|caps3 = 6
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2022–2023
|clubs4 = → Queens Park Rangers (loan)
|caps4 = 15
|goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2023–
|clubs5 = Queens Park Rangers
|caps5 = 4
|goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2024–2025
|clubs6 = → Cambridge United (loan)
|caps6 = 5
|goals6 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2017
|nationalteam1 = England U17
|nationalcaps1 = 3
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|club-update = 18:47, 8 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Taylor Jerome Richards (born 4 December 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Cambridge United on loan from Queens Park Rangers.
He began his senior career at Brighton & Hove Albion, with loans to Doncaster Rovers of League One and Championship clubs Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers, before joining QPR permanently in 2023. In July 2024 he signed for Cambridge United on a season-long loan.
Richards has represented England at under-17 level.
Club career
=Manchester City=
Richards left Fulham to join Manchester City at the age of 14.{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/promising-youngster-taylor-richards-reveals-16625199 |title=Promising youngster Taylor Richards reveals reason for leaving Man City after scoring on Brighton debut| last1=Brennan|first1=Stuart|last2=Corless|first2=Liam |website=Manchester Evening News |date=22 July 2019 |accessdate=12 February 2021}} During his final season at the club he scored a goal against Rochdale to help his side reach the quarter-final of the EFL Trophy.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46802822|title=EFL Trophy: Sunderland beat Newcastle U21s, Man City U21s progress|date=9 January 2019|accessdate=12 February 2021|publisher=BBC Sport}}
=Brighton & Hove Albion=
In July 2019 Richards joined the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion for a transfer fee reported to be £2.5 million.{{cite news |url=https://www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/brighton-and-hove-albion-sign-manchester-city-and-england-starlet-684382 |title=Brighton and Hove Albion sign Manchester City and England starlet |first=Mark |last=Dunford |website=Brighton & Hove Independent |date=18 July 2019 |accessdate=12 February 2021}} He made his professional debut for Brighton on 25 September, in a 3–1 defeat at home against Aston Villa in the EFL Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49736853|title=Brighton 1–3 Aston Villa|date=25 September 2019|accessdate=30 September 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}
==Doncaster Rovers (loan)==
On 25 August 2020, Richards signed for Doncaster Rovers on a season long loan for the 2020–21 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53903630 |title=Taylor Richards: Doncaster Rovers sign Brighton midfielder on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 August 2020 |accessdate=25 August 2020}}{{Cite press release|title=Richards joins Doncaster on loan|access-date=29 August 2020|url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/1772659/richards-joins-doncaster-on-loan/|date=25 August 2020|publisher=Brighton and Hove Albion F.C.}} He made his debut four days later starting in the 3–2 away defeat against Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53871849| title=Carabao Cup first round: Blackburn Rovers 3–2 Doncaster Rovers |date=29 August 2020|accessdate=19 October 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}} He made his league debut on 12 September, playing the whole of a 1–1 draw at home to MK Dons.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54038008 |title=Doncaster Rovers 1–1 Milton Keynes Dons – BBC Sport |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2020 |accessdate=19 October 2020 }} Richards scored his first goal on 26 September, Doncaster's third in a 4–1 home victory over Bristol Rovers.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54215157 |title=Doncaster Rovers 4–1 Bristol Rovers |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 September 2020 |accessdate=19 October 2020}}
==Return to Brighton==
Richards made a Premier League matchday squad for the first time on 14 August in the opening game of the 2021–22 season; he remained as an unused substitute in the 2–1 away win over Burnley.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58124895|title=Burnley 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Substitute Alexis Mac Allister seals comeback win |publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 August 2021|access-date=24 August 2021}} He made his first appearance of the season ten days later, starting in the 2–0 away victory over Cardiff City in the EFL Cup second round.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58239552|title=Cardiff City 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Seagulls into Carabao Cup third round |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 August 2021 |access-date=24 August 2021}} He made his Premier League debut on 28 August, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute for Jakub Moder in the 2–0 home loss against Everton.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58289648|title=Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Everton: Gray and Calvert-Lewin strike to extend Toffees' unbeaten start |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 August 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021}} Richards made his second Premier League appearance almost four months after his debut, coming on as a 84th-minute substitute replacing Enock Mwepu in the 1–0 home defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59573772 |title=Brighton 0-1 Wolves: Romain Saïss goal takes visitors up to eighth in Premier League |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 December 2021 |access-date=16 December 2021}}
==Birmingham City (loan)==
Richards joined EFL Championship club Birmingham City on 7 January 2022 on loan for the remainder of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/taylor-richards-joins-blues-on-loan |title=Taylor Richards joins Blues on loan! |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=7 January 2022 |access-date=7 January 2022}} He suffered an injury during the medical with the club, falling into the edge of a board during a jumping test that looks at the fitness of a player's calf. Manager Lee Bowyer said "I have never heard anything like this. The players have done it a thousand times – it's just this season, he did it ten times and then he does it. It's crazy. I have never heard of a player getting injured in the medical."{{cite web |url=https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/its-crazy-birmingham-city-boss-6720918 |title='It's crazy' – Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer opens up on Brighton loanee's freak injury |website=Sussex Live |date=25 February 2022 |access-date=26 February 2022}} Richards made his first appearance in Birmingham's matchday squad on 26 February, but remained unused.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-brighton-taylor-richards-23292224 |title=Lee Bowyer reveals hope for Birmingham City's 'wild card' signing |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=4 March 2022 |access-date=13 March 2022}} He eventually made his debut on 12 March, as a 69th-minute substitute for Juninho Bacuna in the goalless draw at home to Hull City.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60628089 |title=Birmingham City 0-0 Hull City: Blues and Tigers share the points at St Andrew's |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 March 2022 |access-date=12 March 2022}} According to the Birmingham Mail{{'s}} reporter, "He looked very, very neat on the ball, not afraid to take possession and retain it in tight spots and also good at finding little angles around and in the box. He is a languid mover with good pace and plays with his head up, looking to bring others into the game."{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-taylor-richards-hull-23372558 |title=Birmingham City prospect could save Blues a summer transfer as Taylor Richards debut assessed |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=13 March 2022 |access-date=13 March 2022}} He made five more appearances (two starts) in what remained of the season.
=Queens Park Rangers=
On 22 July 2022, Richards joined EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers on a season-long loan for the 2022–23 season with an option for a permanent deal.{{cite news |url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/taylor-richards-is-home-220722/ |title=Taylor Richards is home |publisher=Queens Park Rangers |access-date=22 July 2022 |date=22 July 2022}} On 11 May 2023, Queens Park Rangers announced that Richards' move would be made permanent on a three-year deal.{{cite web|title=Amos among six players released|url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/retained-list-100523/|website=Queens Park Rangers|date=11 May 2023}}
International career
In February 2017 Richards made three appearances for the England under-17 team.{{cite web|last=Mumford|first=Jack|date=14 February 2017|title=Man City youngsters impress in Algarve Cup|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/academy/academy-news/2017/february/man-city-players-in-england-u17-algarve-cup|access-date=12 February 2021|website=Manchester City F.C.}}
Career statistics
{{Updated|match played 4 January 2025}}
| 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|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|Manchester City U21
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|107016|2017|access-date=5 January 2022}} |colspan=3|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|name=EFLT|appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|107016|2018|access-date=5 January 2022}}
|colspan=3|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 4{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||||
| colspan=2|Total
!colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 | ||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion U21
|colspan=3|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan=3|Brighton & Hove Albion
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|107016|2019|access-date=5 January 2022}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|Premier League |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 4 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5 | 0 | ||
| Doncaster Rovers (loan)
|2020–21{{soccerbase season|107016|2020|access-date=7 January 2022}} |41 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 48 | 11 | |
| Birmingham City (loan)
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|107016|2021|access-date=8 May 2022}} |6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | |||
| Queen Park Rangers (loan)
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|107016|2022|access-date=22 February 2024}} |Championship |15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 16 | 0 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers
|2023–24{{soccerbase season|107016|2023|access-date=22 February 2024}} |Championship |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5 | 0 | ||
| Cambridge United (loan)
|2024–25{{soccerbase season|107016|2024|access-date=13 August 2024}} |League One |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!73 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 95 | 14 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Cambridge United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Taylor}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Category:People from Hammersmith
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
Category:English Football League players