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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