Tag: Cavan Sullivan

Sullivan, 14, nears history after making Philadelphia Union matchday squad

The midfielder will break Freddy Adu’s record for youngest player in MLS history if he enters the match

Cavan Sullivan will be part of the Philadelphia Union’s matchday squad for Wednesday’s game against the New England Revolution, head coach Jim Curtin has confirmed.

It will be the first time Sullivan has made the first team’s matchday roster, and it could be a history-making night at Subaru Park.

If he appears in the game, Sullivan, who will be 14 years and 293 days old, will break Freddy Adu’s record by 13 days as the youngest player in MLS history.

At his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Curtin said that the midfielder has earned his chance to make history.

“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,” Curtin said.

“We are missing a few guys, obviously that goes his way when you have [Jack] McGlynn and [Nathan] Harriel away as well [with the U.S. Olympic team], 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.”

Sullivan signed the richest Homegrown Player contract in MLS history back in May, which included a clause that will see him join Manchester City when he turns 18.

Since then, Sullivan has been featuring with Philadelphia Union II in MLS NEXT Pro, and has scored in each of his last two matches.

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Watch: American soccer’s 14-year old phenom, Cavan Sullivan, scores first professional goal

United States national team and Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan scores his first professional goal.

The future of United States soccer registered his first professional goal over the weekend. Cavan Sullivan, a 14-year-old midfielder who is with the Philadelphia Union, broke onto the scorer’s sheet with a nice individual effort.

Sullivan’s goal came for the Philadelphia Union II, who play in MLS Next Pro. He has reportedly signed with Manchester City in the English Premier League.

As can be expected from a wunderkind, Sullivan is technically proficient. Confident on the ball, he is a sharp passer and a good finisher.

In early June, he made his first start for the Philadelphia Union II, the developmental arm of the MLS club. The Union have one of the best academy system’s in North America, with Sullivan projected to be the next impact player to come up through the system.

He signed with the Union on May 9. He is also a member of the United States U15 National Team.

Check out the goal from Sullivan, a well-taken effort with some individual class:

 

Sullivan now has a goal and an assist on the season.

 

 

Union sign Sullivan, 14, to Homegrown contract with Man City clause

The teenager has been described as the best prospect in the world in his age group

The Philadelphia Union have announced the signing of 14-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan to the richest Homegrown Player contract in MLS history.

Per multiple reports, Sullivan’s contract includes a clause that will see him join Premier League champion Manchester City when he turns 18.

“Cavan is undeniably a rare and extraordinary talent. At just 14 years old his natural skill and vision are far beyond his years,” said Union sporting director Ernst Tanner. “His advanced soccer IQ, paired with his ability to read plays, advance the ball, and score, show just how high his ceiling will be.”

Sullivan will join his brother Quinn, 20, on the Union’s first team.

“I’ve been watching my home team, the Union, for as long as I remember and hoped that one day I’d get the chance to play for my city in front of my family, friends, and fans,” Sullivan said. “Being able to not only play for the Union but to be able to play with my brother is a dream come true.”

Should the U.S. youth international debut for the Union on or before July 29, he will become the youngest player ever in the top North American professional sports leagues (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL).

In an interview with ESPN, Sullivan confirmed the Man City clause in his deal, saying it was a major factor in his decision to begin his pro career with his hometown club.

“I also think the collaboration between the Union and the City Group was — I think that did it for me. I always watch Man City. They’re like every kid’s dream team. For them [Philadelphia and Man City] to come together and agree on something — I sat with my family and my agents and we decided that it was the best plan.”

The Athletic reported that City will pay up to $5 million for Sullivan.

Sullivan made his pro debut in March, coming on as a substitute for Philadelphia Union II in MLS Next Pro and promptly delivering a game-winning assist.

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The Cavan Sullivan hype train will be tough to slow down

The “best 14-year-old in the world” is set for a move to Manchester City

Before saying anything else about Cavan Sullivan, it’s probably worth emphasizing that, yes, he is 14 years old.

The world of soccer is filled with previously hyped-up 14-year-olds who never amounted to anything. Freddy Adu is the archetype here but let’s not forget he earned 17 senior national team caps, played well over 100 MLS games, and represented European powers like Benfica and Monaco.

He didn’t live up to the hype, obviously, but Adu went much farther than many other 14-year-old future Pelés.

But Sullivan, who is per multiple reports set to sign with Manchester City, does appear to be more can’t-miss than the average player his age.

Taylor Twellman has claimed that Man City scouts consider the U.S. under-15 attacker the best 14-year-old in the world, which is some heady stuff to hear for an American prospect. It also ensures the attention on Sullivan is only set to increase.

Fair or unfair (and it’s probably the latter), Sullivan captures the imagination right now because he seems to represent the next hope for American fans to finally see one of their own among the world’s best men’s players.

With apologies to the current crop of USMNT stars, there are no future Ballon d’Or candidates among them. As long as the country continues to lack that player everyone hoped Adu would become 20 years ago, the next 14-year-old prodigy will always have a little extra riding on their development.

Sullivan, of course, isn’t doing much on the field to tamp down the excitement. In his first pro game last weekend, he delivered the game-winning assist for Philadelphia Union II in MLS Next Pro.

“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,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said last year.

Curtin appears as though he’ll have one of the first cracks to help shape Sullivan at the pro level. The teenager won’t be eligible for Man City until he’s 18, and The Athletic reports that he is set to sign the richest Homegrown Player contract in MLS history with the Union in the meantime.

Though the agreement comes with the stipulation that Sullivan could be sent to a City Football Group side in Europe “if his development surpasses MLS before his 18th birthday,” the possibility of Sullivan actually playing for his hometown team is strong.

That didn’t appear to be the case when early reports emerged of City’s interest. This appears to be a win-win for all parties, as Sullivan has the chance to play at home for a few more years, presumably joining his older brother Quinn on the first team eventually. The Union will get to see one of their brightest prospects play for them, and reap the financial benefits from a sale and future a sell-on percentage.

And if Sullivan is as good as they say he is — a big if, obviously — then Man City could have a future first-team contributor. That would put Sullivan in a rarified space that few American players have ever reached.

It’s a long way away, but it’s possible. And for a clamoring American fan base, that possibility is intoxicating.

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