FORMER Sydney Swan Xavier Richards will play for Sydney University in the NEAFL this season. 

In an apparent backflip from his unsuccessful request to be traded to a Melbourne club in October, Richards has opted to stay in the Harbour City to play at the lower level.

Where did it all go wrong for Xavier Richards?

It's a stunning sequence of events for the 23-year-old, who just three months ago played in the Swans' losing Grand Final against the Western Bulldogs. 

Richards, who played 12 senior games, knocked back a deal worth $300,000 over two years from Sydney to test his luck during trade period but found no takers.

His manager Phil Mullen cited a Richards' desire to return home and save money as the major motivation for his trade request, rather than a problem with the Swans. 

'He will be able to go home to Melbourne and live with his parents initially and put some money away, that's been impossible in Sydney,' Mullen told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

Now Richards will be living in Sydney on a significantly reduced wage. 

"He obviously had a lot of other clubs from all over the country, in particular from Melbourne, chasing after his signature," University coach Tom Morrison said.

"Part of my role is to get him back on to an AFL list as much as it is to make sure we perform well for the upcoming NEAFL season."

Richards, the younger brother of retired Swans great Ted, trained with Essendon but failed to secure a deal as a delisted free agent.

He will train with his new teammates for the first time next Monday. 

Richards was recruited by the Swans in the 2012 AFL Rookie Draft and made his debut in 2013.