Crystal Palace have signed centre-back Chris Richards from Bayern Munich according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest?

Romano recently tweeted the news that the Eagles have secured the services of Richards in a deal worth €20m (£17m). He said that it would be a matter of time before the club announced the addition of the USA international.

"Crystal Palace have now signed and completed Chris Richards deal. Also medical tests done, just matter of time to announce the agreement - fee could reach €20m with add ons," he said.

He is expected to sign a five-year deal at Selhurst Park with his former club in America FC Dallas receiving a huge 35% sell-on fee as a result of the transfer.

Richards will massively improve Palace's backline and will be a big step in helping them achieve a top 10 finish next season.

Imagine him & Guehi

The player he will most likely lineup alongside for the Eagles is English defender Marc Guehi and he will make a great defensive pairing.

Both are 22 years old and it's clear that manager Patrick Vieira sees them as key players in Palace's future, and their recent form shows just why they are good enough already.

Guehi played in 36 of Palace's Premier League games last season and in that time kept ten clean sheets.

Richards on the other hand has only made a few appearances for Bayern but impressed last season whilst out on loan at Hoffenheim - he made 20 appearances and won 62% of his overall duels.

Both have already earnt call ups to their respective national teams and USA manager Gregg Berhalter heaped praise on Richards last year, saying:

“Chris is one of our central defenders of the future. I like his development very much. I find the cooperation between Bayern and the USSF to be outstanding. Together we’re trying to develop a great player from a great talent."

It's a real coup for Palace to have landed two youngsters who had previously been at two top European clubs.

Since signing from Chelsea last summer Guehi has shone under Vieira and we're very excited to see just how good of a partner to him Richards can be.

If the American continues performing to the levels he's shown in the Bundesliga, then Palace supporters can get excited about their chances of pushing up the table next season.

AND in other news: Vieira can unearth Palace’s Zaha heir in teenage star with “a little bit of X-factor”...