Frank Christian
Cavan Sullivan, a rising star in U.S. soccer, has secured a prominent spot in the sport at just 14 years old. He recently signed the most substantial homegrown contract in MLS history and is on track to join Manchester City, a dominant force in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola.
Sullivan’s reputation soared even higher when he made his debut in Major League Soccer (MLS), breaking a notable record in the process.
During Philadelphia Union’s match against New England Revolution on July 17, the teenager entered the field in the 85th minute, becoming the youngest player in MLS history. He surpassed the previous record held by former D.C. United talent Freddy Adu, which stood for two decades.
Breaking Freddy Adu’s MLS Record
Cavan Sullivan’s debut for Philadelphia Union on July 17 made him the youngest player in MLS history, surpassing Freddy Adu’s record.
When Adu played for D.C. United against San Jose Earthquakes on April 3, 2004, he was 14 years and 307 days old.
Sullivan broke this long-standing record at the age of 14 years and 293 days, exceeding Adu’s record by two weeks.
Union coach Jim Curtin expressed his confidence in Sullivan’s abilities, stating, “Tomorrow he will be in the 20 because he’s earned it. If you look at his performances in the Union II games and the goals that he scored… We are missing a few guys, obviously that goes his way when you have [Jack] McGlynn and [Nathan] Harriel away as well, but Cavan’s earned the right to be in the 20 if you just go through the numbers and he’ll get that opportunity now.”
Player Transfer News: Cavan Sullivan to Manchester City
In March 2024, it was officially announced that Cavan Sullivan had sealed a deal to join the Premier League champions, Manchester City. However, due to rules regarding international transfers, Sullivan will have to wait until he reaches the age of 18 in September 2029 before he can play for the English club.
While there were talks of Sullivan potentially moving to City at 16 and then being loaned to another European club under EU labor laws, it currently seems more probable that he will continue his progress in the U.S. until he makes a full transition to City in five years.
Aside from Manchester City, other major European clubs like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid had shown interest in signing the talented youngster.
The Journey of Freddy Adu in Football
Once hailed as “the next Pele” for his exceptional skills as a young player, Freddy Adu was drafted by D.C. United in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft and went on to break records as the youngest player and goal scorer in MLS history just three months later.
After making his debut for the U.S. Men’s National Team at 16 in 2006, Adu was expected to become a standout player not only in U.S. soccer history but on a global scale.
However, his career took a different turn after stints with D.C. United and Real Salt Lake in the MLS. Adu struggled to find his place at Benfica in Portugal and was loaned out to clubs in France, Greece, and Turkey. Former coach Thomas Rongen expressed concerns about the move, believing it was premature for the young player.
Adu returned to the MLS with Philadelphia Union in 2011 before heading to Brazilian club Bahia briefly. He then had brief spells in Serbia and Finland before playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Las Vegas Lights, and finally Swedish side Osterlen.
