The transfer of FC Dallas Homegrown defender Chris Richards to Bayern Munich may be nearing completion or is already complete, based on multiple reports. While no official announcement has come from FC Dallas or Bayern Munich, multiple reporters are claiming the deal is done.

The initial report this morning came from MLSSoccer.com writer Sam Stejskal with details of a low seven-figure purchase price with a sell on clause.

Source: U.S. U-20 CB Chris Richards' move from FC Dallas to Bayern Munich is complete. FCD will receive a low seven-figure fee w/ sell-on clause for the Alabama native, who spent second half of 2018 on loan to Bayern. @SoccerByIves reported last month move was being finalized. — Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) January 5, 2019

The sell-on clause is of vital importance to FC Dallas and is likely what held the transfer up, seeing as how Richards' original loan ran out December 31st and he had reported back to Dallas to attend the Luchi Gonzalez hiring press conference. FC Dallas owner and President Dan Hunt was quoted as saying the club had no interest in selling Richards and the young center back was part of the 2019 FC Dallas plans.

Chris Richards and Thomas Roberts are here for this Luchi press conference. pic.twitter.com/K3LvZ5aRZ5 — 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) December 17, 2018

Next came a report from Charles Boehm of a 3-year contract worth about $1.5 million guaranteed for Richards. That's far more than the base $90k Richards was making with FC Dallas as a Homegrown.

Have heard that Bayern offered Richards a 3-year deal with around $1.5 mil in total wages guaranteed. Huge for the player and his family, and FCD gets a nice return on a player who's only been in their system since 2017. https://t.co/YQM3Mb2rJf — Charles Boehm (@cboehm) January 5, 2019

Lastly surfaced a report from Ives Galarcep, with the info that Richards fee could reach as high as $2 million based on certain factors and the FC Dallas sell-on clause was 40%.

I’m told FC Dallas and Bayern Munich have completed a $1.5 million transfer for #USMNT Under-20 midfielder Chris Richards. Fee could rise to $2million, and transfer includes a large sell-on. More details here. #FCBayern : https://t.co/G5NmvjEq9O — Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 5, 2019

That 40% sell-on clause is massive for FC Dallas as Richards has an immensely high ceiling. Even if he never plays for Bayern he will might move for a boatload of money down the line.

Our Take

This kind of sale of a youth player formally of their Academy is exactly the business model FC Dallas is in these days. Having lost Weston McKennie for nothing to Schalke 04, FC Dallas is determined not to repeat that mistake. That's why FC Dallas has been so aggressive with Homegrown signings and the development of the USL side, North Texas Soccer Club.

The $1.5 million fee for Richards is a fantastic value for a 19-year-old kid with zero professional games under his belt that had only been with the FC Dallas Academy for one season. Plus the sell-on fee is a tremendous added bonus.

Not to mention the recruiting value for the FC Dallas Academy. By showing there is an established pathway from FCD to a massive European club like Bayern, FCD will be able to appeal to the very top of domestic youth talent.

This is how the soccer world works. Richards is a level of talent and potential that was always going to be very difficult for FC Dallas to keep. By getting a fee and sell-on, FCD has done quite well for themselves.

Who knows, maybe we'll see Richards in an FC Dallas uniform some day in a swan song following a world-class career in Germany.

the stars are so beautiful this high up — chris richards (@eastmamba) January 5, 2019