| Birth Date: | 1990 5, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Height: | 1.87 m[1] |
| Position: | Centre-back |
| Currentclub: | Chicago Fire |
| Clubnumber: | 5 |
| Youthclubs1: | FSV Verden 04 |
| Youthyears2: | –2008 |
| Youthclubs2: | TSV Ottersberg |
| Years1: | 2008–2010 |
| Clubs1: | TSV Ottersberg |
| Caps1: | 62 |
| Goals1: | 15 |
| Years2: | 2010–2012 |
| Clubs2: | VfL Wolfsburg II |
| Caps2: | 23 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2012–2015 |
| Clubs3: | Rot-Weiss Erfurt |
| Caps3: | 99 |
| Goals3: | 9 |
| Years4: | 2015–2018 |
| Clubs4: | Holstein Kiel |
| Caps4: | 99 |
| Goals4: | 12 |
| Years5: | 2018–2022 |
| Clubs5: | 1. FC Köln |
| Caps5: | 103 |
| Goals5: | 4 |
| Years6: | 2022– |
| Clubs6: | Chicago Fire |
| Caps6: | 74 |
| Goals6: | 5 |
| Club-Update: | 29 May 2024 (UTC) |
Rafael Czichos (born 14 May 1990) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.
Born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia while his father worked there,[2] Czichos began his career at TSV Ottersberg and joined VfL Wolfsburg II in 2010. In 2012, he signed with then 3. Liga side Rot-Weiss Erfurt. After signing with Holstein Kiel, Czichos first played in the 2. Bundesliga when the team won promotion in 2017.[3]
However, Kiel failed to win promotion after the 2017–18 season and he was sold to newly relegated side 1. FC Köln for a fee of €1.8 million.[4] He made his debut, including his first goal, for the club in a 2–0 victory against VfL Bochum on 4 August 2018.[5] Having been an undisputed starter in the first half of the 2021–22 season, he left 1. FC Köln in January 2022, with half a year left on his contract. kicker described the move as "surprising".[6]
On 2 January 2022, Czichos transferred to Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire on a three-year contract.[7] [8]
In a July 2018 interview Czichos revealed he was a life-long fan of Werder Bremen.[9]