Prior to an expected move to Manchester city when he turns 18, 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan of the Philadelphia Union has signed a homegrown contract with the MLS club. According to The Athletic, it’s also a record deal that will see Sullivan earn more than $500,000 per season. This is slightly ahead of Freddy Adu’s deal when he signed for DC United in 2003.
Sullivan will follow in his older brother’s footsteps Quinn Sullivan, who also signed a homegrown contract with the Union and is enjoying a breakout season as a starter at age 20. Both are midfielders who have pushed each other throughout their careers so far, but with Cavan being scouted by teams like Borussia Dortmund And Real MadridAccording to reports, it was City who appeared to have won the race because of his signature. Sullivan has featured for the Philadelphia Union’s MLS Next Pro side, but this is a deal that will now pave the way for him to appear for the first team, as long as it complies with Pennsylvania labor laws.
“The Union means almost everything to me, it’s my club,” said Sullivan. ‘Seeing Quinn play in the first team, having been at the club since I was a kid. This is my home.’
One of the top youth talents in the world, Sullivan will follow a path that will see Brenden and Paxten Aaronson teaming up with Mark McKenzie. The academy has also seen talents such as Auston reliable also move to Europe, although not directly like the former trio.
Sullivan is now one of the youngest signings in MLS history and if he makes his debut before July 29, he could become the youngest player to ever debut in a top American sports league, surpassing Adu who debuted at 14 years and 306 days old.
“We’re not afraid to put Cavan on the field at any time if he’s ready,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said. “He will appear on the field primarily on merit, but I will say it publicly: [His debut] is much closer than people may realize.”
With MLS teams competing in the Leagues Cup in July, that could be an opportunity for Sullivan to play a match early enough in the day to make his debut while breaking the record for school being out of session, but that will come down to several factors as the host country of the Union Charlotte F.C to kick off the group stage on July 28. It’s a historic day in Philadelphia as Sullivan will be a player to watch in the American talent pool in the coming years and his professional debut will come sooner or later.
