 Chin with Farnborough in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Li Hua Chin[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 15 October 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Bexley, England | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Raith Rovers | ||
| 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– | Raith Rovers | 10 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2025– | Malaysia | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 27 December 2025 (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 Raith Rovers. Born in England, he plays for the Malaysia national team.
Early life
[edit]Chin is of Malaysian and Seychellois descent; his father is Malaysian Chinese and his mother is from the Seychelles.[2]
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.[3]
Career
[edit]Charlton Athletic
[edit]Chin started his career with Charlton Athletic, joining the club at the age of six.[2] He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021.[4]
Chin made his first-team debut in the EFL Trophy on 10 November 2021, starting in a 1–0 defeat to Leyton Orient.[4]
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.[5] In doing so, Chin became the first person of Malaysian heritage to play in England's third tier.[6]
On 22 March 2023, Charlton took up the extension option in his contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2024.[7]
On 3 May 2024, it was confirmed that Chin would leave Charlton Athletic when his contract expired.[8]
Loans to Dartford
[edit]On 23 March 2023, Chin joined Dartford on loan for the rest of the 2022–23 season.[9] 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.[10] On 25 November 2023, Chin scored his first goal for the team in a 3–0 win against Torquay United.
Loan to Bath City
[edit]In February 2024, Chin joined Bath City on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.[11] 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
[edit]On 1 August 2024, Chin joined National League South side Farnborough following his release from Charlton.[12] On 20 August 2024, he scored a goal for the team in a 2–0 win against Eastbourne Borough.
Raith Rovers
[edit]On 17 June 2025, Chin joined Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers for an undisclosed fee.[13]
International career
[edit]As a result of his heritage, Chin is eligible to represent Malaysia, Seychelles, and England internationally.[4] He expressed his interest in representing Malaysia early in his career.[14]
On 29 August 2025, he was named in the Malaysia squad for a training camp ahead of friendly matches against Singapore and Palestine.[15] Ahead of the friendly against Palestine, he expressed his hope to make his debut and contribute to the team.[16] 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.[17][18]
Personal life
[edit]Chin converted to Islam in November 2024, having recited the Shahada privately on his own initiative.[19][20] 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.[21][22]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of 27 December 2025[23]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Charlton Athletic | 2021–22 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | League One | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Charlton Athletic total | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Dartford (loan) | 2022–23 | National League South | 7 | 0 | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | National League South | 6 | 3 | — | — | 1[e] | 0 | 7 | 3 | |||
| Dartford total | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||
| Bath City (loan) | 2023–24 | National League South | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1[f] | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Farnborough | 2024–25[24] | National League South | 42 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[g] | 0 | 44 | 7 | |
| Raith Rovers | 2025–26 | Scottish Championship | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Career total | 73 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 94 | 12 | ||
- ^ Appearance in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearance in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearance in the National League South play-offs
- ^ Appearance in the Kent Senior Cup
- ^ Appearance in the Somerset Premier Cup
- ^ Appearance in the FA Trophy
International
[edit]- As of match played 8 September 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
References
[edit]- ^ "EFL squad list 2021/22 & U21 registered contracted players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ a b Temuramah Richard Li Hua Chin bersama Astro Arena (in Malay), retrieved 20 August 2022
- ^ Blyghton, Richard (12 May 2017). "School Blog week ending 12 May 2017". BETHS Grammar School Blog.
- ^ a b c "Richard Chin Charlton Athletic Biography". Charlton Athletic Official Site. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Charlton Athletic 1–1 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Richard Chin makes League One debut, first with Malaysian heritage to play in England's third tier". The Star. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Club exercise Chin contract extension". www.charltonafc.com. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "2023/24 End-of-Season Squad Update". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Richard Chin completes Dartford loan". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Richard Chin rejoins Dartford on loan". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Player News – Richard Chin". Bath City Official Site. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ Lloyd, Dom (1 August 2024). "Highly-rated Chin joins Boro". Farnborough FC. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Welcome Richard Chin!". Raith Rovers FC X (formerly Twitter). 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Media Release: List of 29 Players for the Harimau Malaya Centralized Training Camp (September 2025)". Football Association of Malaysia. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Rizar, Mohd Noor (8 September 2025). "Figueiredo wira Harimau Malaya" [Figueiredo hero for Harimau Malaya]. Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
- ^ "Goal and Highlights: Malaysia vs Palestine in Friendly (1–0)". VAVEL. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Harimau Malaya's Richard Chin reveals conversion to Islam". Malay Mail. 11 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ^ Lee, Seng Foo (8 September 2025). "TIL Richard Chin is a Muslim". X. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Richard Chin at Soccerway
- ^ "Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Walton & Hersham 2 – 1 Farnborough". Football Web Pages. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.