Sydney Swans forward Xavier Richards has been unable to come to terms with the club on a new contract and has officially requested a trade.

Head of football Tom Harley confirmed the 23-year-old's wishes to seek a new club in a statement on the club's website. 

"We’ve been in discussions with Xavier’s management through the back end of the year and to this point we haven’t been able to come to terms," Harley said. 

"We will work with Xavier and his management to find a mutually beneficial outcome." 

Richards has played 10 games in four seasons with the Swans, including all three finals and the Grand Final in 2016. 

Recruited in the 2013 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, Richards is yet to declare a preferred new home. 

His brother, Swans veteran Ted, retired at the end of the season after 261 games.