Richard Chin

Richard Chin
Chin with Farnborough in 2024
Personal information
Full name Richard Li Hua Chin
Date of birth (2002-10-15) 15 October 2002 (age 24)
Place of birth Bexley, England
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Ross County
Number 7
Youth career
2008–2021 Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Charlton Athletic 5 (0)
2023 → Dartford (loan) 7 (0)
2023 → Dartford (loan) 6 (3)
2024 → Bath City (loan) 3 (1)
2024–2025 Farnborough 42 (7)
2025–2026 Raith Rovers 22 (2)
2026– Ross County 6 (1)
International career‡
2025– Malaysia 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 02:49, 9 August 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 17:10, 27 December 2025 (UTC)

Richard Li Hua Chin (born 15 October 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or full-back for Scottish Championship club Ross County. Born in England, he plays for the Malaysia national team.

Early life

Chin is of Malaysian and Seychellois descent; his father is Malaysian Chinese and his mother is from the Seychelles.

Between 2014 and 2021, Chin attended Beths Grammar School in Bexley, England. In 2017, Chin helped the school to the Under-14s English Schools Cup alongside future Charlton teammate Euan Williams, as well as Lewis Bate and Samuel Edozie, who went on to play for Leeds United and Southampton respectively.

Career

Charlton Athletic

Chin started his career with Charlton Athletic, joining the club at the age of six. He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021.

Chin made his first-team debut in the EFL Trophy on 10 November 2021, starting in a 1–0 defeat to Leyton Orient.

On 13 September 2022, Chin started his first League One match, playing the first 72 minutes in a 1–1 draw with Forest Green Rovers. In doing so, Chin became the first person of Malaysian heritage to play in England's third tier.

On 22 March 2023, Charlton took up the extension option in his contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2024.

On 3 May 2024, it was confirmed that Chin would leave Charlton Athletic when his contract expired.

Loans to Dartford

On 23 March 2023, Chin joined Dartford on loan for the rest of the 2022–23 season. On 1 April 2023, Chin made his debut with the National League South side in a 4–0 win against Dulwich Hamlet.

On 24 November 2023, Chin returned to Dartford on an initial month's loan. On 25 November 2023, Chin scored his first goal for the team in a 3–0 win against Torquay United.

Loan to Bath City

In February 2024, Chin joined Bath City on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season. On 10 February 2024, Chin made his debut for the National League South side in a 1–0 win against Dartford, featuring in the starting lineup. On 17 February 2024, Chin scored his first goal for the team in a 3–1 win against St Albans City.

Farnborough

On 1 August 2024, Chin joined National League South side Farnborough following his release from Charlton. On 20 August 2024, he scored a goal for the team in a 2–0 win against Eastbourne Borough.

Raith Rovers

On 17 June 2025, Chin joined Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

Ross County

On 9 June 2026, Chin joined Scottish League One side Ross County for an undisclosed fee.

International career

As a result of his heritage, Chin is eligible to represent Malaysia, Seychelles, and England internationally. He expressed his interest in representing Malaysia early in his career.

On 29 August 2025, he was named in the Malaysia squad for a training camp ahead of friendly matches against Singapore and Palestine. Ahead of the friendly against Palestine, he expressed his hope to make his debut and contribute to the team. He made his debut for Malaysia on 8 September 2025, coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute to replace Quentin Cheng in a 1–0 win over Palestine at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor Bahru.

Personal life

Chin converted to Islam in November 2024, having recited the Shahada privately on his own initiative. News of his conversion became public in September 2025 following media coverage of a video showing him performing prayers at the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque in Johor Bahru alongside his national teammates and members of the Palestinian squad.

Career statistics

Club

As of 11 August 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Charlton Athletic 2021–22 League One 0000001010
2022–23 League One 50303040150
2023–24 League One 0000101020
Total 50304060180
Dartford (loan) 2022–23 National League South 70——1080
2023–24 National League South 63——1073
Total 133000020153
Bath City (loan) 2023–24 National League South 31——1041
Farnborough 2024–25 National League South 42710—10447
Raith Rovers 2025–26 Scottish Championship 222003040292
Ross County 2026–27 Scottish League One 2000411172
Career total 87134011115111715
  1. 1 2 3 Appearance in the EFL Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearance in the National League South play-offs
  3. ↑ Appearance in the Kent Senior Cup
  4. ↑ Appearance in the Somerset Premier Cup
  5. ↑ Appearance in the FA Trophy
  6. 1 2 Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup

International

As of match played 8 September 2025
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Malaysia 202510
Total10

Honours

Raith Rovers

References

  1. ↑ "EFL squad list 2021/22 & U21 registered contracted players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 Temuramah Richard Li Hua Chin bersama Astro Arena (in Malay), retrieved 20 August 2022
  3. ↑ Blyghton, Richard (12 May 2017). "School Blog week ending 12 May 2017". BETHS Grammar School Blog.
  4. 1 2 3 "Richard Chin Charlton Athletic Biography". Charlton Athletic Official Site. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "Charlton Athletic 1–1 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  6. ↑ "Richard Chin makes League One debut, first with Malaysian heritage to play in England's third tier". The Star. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Club exercise Chin contract extension". www.charltonafc.com. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "2023/24 End-of-Season Squad Update". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "Richard Chin completes Dartford loan". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "Richard Chin rejoins Dartford on loan". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Player News – Richard Chin". Bath City Official Site. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  12. ↑ Lloyd, Dom (1 August 2024). "Highly-rated Chin joins Boro". Farnborough FC. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  13. ↑ "Welcome Richard Chin!". Raith Rovers FC X (formerly Twitter). 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "Richard Chin Signs For Ross County". 9 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Rock Sports Management on Instagram: "History Maker 🇲🇾 📰 Richard Chin has become the first Malaysian heritage player to compete in the English Football League..." Instagram. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  16. ↑ "Media Release: List of 29 Players for the Harimau Malaya Centralized Training Camp (September 2025)". Football Association of Malaysia. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  17. ↑ Muhammad Zakwan, Nazaraly (7 September 2025). "Richard Chin harap debut bersama Harimau Malaya lawan Palestin" [Richard Chin hopes for debut with Harimau Malaya against Palestine]. Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  18. ↑ Rizar, Mohd Noor (8 September 2025). "Figueiredo wira Harimau Malaya" [Figueiredo hero for Harimau Malaya]. Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  19. ↑ "Goal and Highlights: Malaysia vs Palestine in Friendly (1–0)". VAVEL. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  20. ↑ "Saya lafazkan Syahadah tahun lalu -- Richard Chin" [I recited the Shahadah last year — Richard Chin]. Stadium Astro (in Malay). 10 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "Harimau Malaya's Richard Chin reveals conversion to Islam". Malay Mail. 11 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  22. ↑ Lee, Seng Foo (8 September 2025). "TIL Richard Chin is a Muslim". X. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  23. ↑ Syazwan Msar (8 September 2025). "Richard Chin kejutkan peminat, rupanya seorang Muslim" [Richard Chin surprises fans, turns out to be a Muslim]. Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  24. ↑ Richard Chin at Soccerway
  25. ↑ "Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Walton & Hersham 2 – 1 Farnborough". Football Web Pages. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  26. ↑ "Raith Rovers win KDM Evolution Trophy". 5 April 2026.