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July 18, 2024
Cavan Sullivan, the teenage sensation with peroxide blonde hair, has been turning heads since joining Philadelphia Union’s academy at just 10 years old. After attracting attention from top clubs worldwide, Manchester City secured his signature. In May 2024, at 14, Sullivan signed his first pro contract with Philadelphia Union, with a future move to City included. Two months later, he made history as the youngest Player to debut in MLS.
Despite being born after the release of the iPhone 3, Sullivan has already drawn interest from giants like Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayern Munich. Here’s what to know about City’s future star.
The Sullivan family’s deep connection to football began with Cavan’s grandfather, Larry Sullivan. Originally a promising baseball player, Larry’s sports career shifted after he lost three fingers on his dominant hand while serving in Vietnam, where he was awarded a Purple Heart. Upon returning to Philadelphia, he turned his focus to football.
Larry went on to coach Villanova University for 17 seasons, where he mentored Jim Curtin, the current manager of Philadelphia Union, who played a crucial role in bringing young Cavan into the fold. Curtin praised Larry as “a lifelong friend, a great person, and a mentor I learned so much from.”
Cavan’s father, Brendan Sullivan, also played under Larry at Villanova before moving to the University of Pennsylvania, where he met his future wife, Heike, a women’s soccer team player.
Heike pursued a career in law while continuing to play recreationally. At the same time, Brendan spent five years playing professionally in the A-League, the now-defunct second division of U.S. soccer, before working as Larry’s assistant at Villanova.
Cavan’s breakthrough into the senior team is even more special because he gets to play alongside his older brother, Quinn Sullivan. Quinn, six years Cavan’s senior, debuted for Philadelphia Union in April 2021, just days after turning 17. Completing the Sullivan football legacy are 16-year-old twins Ronan and Declan, also working their way through the youth ranks.
| The Sullivan Sons | |
| Player | Born |
| Quinn | 27th March 2004 |
| Ronan and Declan | 28th November 2007 |
| Cavan | 28th September 2009 |
Unlike many footballers who took longer to have their talents recognized, Cavan Sullivan has been marked for greatness since the age of 10. Reflecting on his early breakthrough, Sullivan shared, “I think that’s really when I thought: ‘This is happening.’ It didn’t feel real but definitely triggered something in my mind.” By age 12, he was already training with Borussia Dortmund.
He made a significant statement at the Under-15 Pinatar Arena Supercup in April 2023.
In preparation for the tournament in Spain, Sullivan adjusted his routine by waking up half an hour earlier each day to fend off jet lag. His dedication paid off as the 13-year-old sensation scored twice on his debut for the U.S. in a 2-2 draw against England, with the USA winning the match on penalties.
A few weeks earlier, Sullivan stood out at the 2023 Generation Adidas Cup, an elite international youth tournament. Representing Philadelphia Union’s Under-15s, he needed only 19 seconds to score the opening goal in a win over Arsenal. He later helped his team defeat Real Madrid’s youth squad. Following the tournament, Philadelphia Union’s senior head coach, Jim Curtin, warned about Sullivan’s rapid rise.
“Those that maybe haven’t learned yet, a young Cavan Sullivan has the talent and ability to become, I’ll just say, a household name and is doing really big things.”
Sullivan amplified the growing buzz around him during the Under-15 CONCACAF Boys’ Championship in the summer of 2023. As the youngest Player on the U.S. team, he led his country to the title, scoring four goals and earning the Player of the Tournament accolade.
Shortly after turning 14 in September 2023, Sullivan was promoted to Philadelphia Union’s Under-17 squad. However, his rise was too rapid to be confined to that age group, as he broke into the Union’s second team when MLS pre-season began in early 2024.
Sullivan’s much-anticipated senior MLS debut came in July 2024. His older brother Quinn Sullivan capped the night with a spectacular goal in a dominant 5-1 win over the New England Revolution. Cavan was the first to celebrate with Quinn after his 84th-minute strike. Moments later, at just 14 years and 293 days old, Cavan was subbed onto the field, breaking Freddy Adu’s record, which debuted at 14 years and 306 days back in 2004.
Adu once hailed as “the new Pele,” struggled to live up to that lofty label, playing for 15 different clubs during a disappointing career. Sullivan, however, not only surpassed Adu but also became the youngest debutant in any of North America’s top professional leagues (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL).
| Cavan Sullivan’s MLS Debut | |
| Date | 17th July 2024 |
| Match | Philadelphia Union 5-1 New England Revolution |
| Minutes | 5 |
| Touches | 5 |
| Passes | 3 |
| Shots | 1 |
Listed at 5’7″ and 150 lbs by the Philadelphia Union, the left-footed forward quickly drew the inevitable—and often unhelpful—comparisons to Lionel Messi. However, unlike many young talents burdened by being linked to one of the greatest players in football history, Cavan Sullivan’s strong mental resilience allows him to tune out the hype. “I don’t really listen to anyone, whether it’s good or bad,” he casually remarked. “So it doesn’t really get to me whatsoever.” Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin has quickly offered praise, though it’s unlikely Sullivan pays attention to it.
“When he gets the ball, it’s electric, something’s going to happen here. He’s going to do something that I don’t think of as a coach, I can’t teach as a coach, he’s going to do something outside the box.”
Ernst Tanner, the club’s sporting director, noted Sullivan’s “advanced soccer I.Q.” as he enumerated his many positive attributes. Accompanied by an attacking midfielder who can drift onto either flank, Sullivan’s passing vision and sense have been highly praised. Throughout his early career, the small forward has scored many goals similar to the poacher’s finishes, pounced on mistakes, and tucked away loose balls from inside the six-yard box.
On May 9, 2024, Philadelphia formally declared that Sullivan had inked a contract with them that would last until 2028. This business transaction is not included in the Union’s strictly supervised senior budget. Because Philadelphia was exempt from the MLS salary cap, they could extend an alluring compensation package to Sullivan.
The Philadelphia Inquirer claims that the 14-year-old accepted the most significant homegrown player contract in Major League Soccer history. With an average salary of over $500,000 (£400,000) per season, Sullivan’s contract eclipses another record that Freddy Adu once held.
With some reluctance, Adu broke his appearance record and congratulated his extraordinary successor on social media: “That’s a hard record to break, and the kid did it. Well done, and good luck, my man.”
While most teenagers have no idea what they will do in the next four hours, Sullivan has his entire four years planned out. His contract with Philadelphia includes a straight path to the defending Premier League champions Manchester City.
“I guess my goal is just to become a regular player [for Philadelphia] within the next two years. Then after that, I would hope to be a starter. I guess that’s from the 16 to 18 age window. And then right when I’m 18 I hope to be at the level of the Man City first team.”
The teenage sensation will be signed by The City Football Group, the expansive multi-club initiative led by Manchester City, as soon as he turns 18. Sullivan cannot play professional football in England until he is a legal adult because he does not hold British citizenship. The adolescent
American does, however, have a German passport because of his maternal grandfather, Klaus Krippendorff, a highly esteemed University of Pennsylvania professor. Due to his dual citizenship, Sullivan would have been able to get a 16-year-old loan move to one of City’s sister clubs in European football, such as Girona of La Liga or Palermo of Italy.
According to The Athletic, Sullivan was set to sign with Belgian team Lommel SK after turning 16. Still, Philadelphia persuaded CFG of their suitability in the interim. The earliest window in which City can use the $5 million (£4 million) clause in Sullivan’s contract to bring him to the Etihad is January 2028. For the record, Jack Grealish will be thirty-two years old by then.
The analysis of Sullivan must have been tainted by hyperbole because so much has been said about him before he was old enough to watch The Matrix. However, he forgot to say the most unbelievable thing about the starlet. “I’m a pretty boring kid, to be honest,” With all seriousness, the record-breaking 14-year-old who was signed by Manchester City said.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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