The Philadelphia Union has announced the signing of 14-year-old U.S. youth international Cavan Sullivan in a Major League Soccer record deal.
The Athletic reported at the beginning of May Philadelphia had completed the deal to sign Sullivan to the most lucrative homegrown contract in MLS history.
He becomes the the youngest player in Philadelphia’s history to be added to the first team roster, and the fifth ever youngest player to sign a first-team contract in MLS.
“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,” said Sullivan. “Being able to not only play for the Union but to be able to play with my brother (Philadelphia midfielder Quinn Sullivan) is a dream come true. I will give everything I have to this club and hope to help bring home some hardware. I’m thankful for the opportunity and hope to make Philadelphia proud.”
Sullivan will then transfer to Manchester City when he turns 18, the first time an agreement like that has been baked into a player’s first MLS contract. Sullivan has also signed his Manchester City deal, which will go into effect when he joins the club, sources say. Fabrizio Romano first reported his City deal was signed.
City will pay up to $5 million for the 14-year-old, sources told The Athletic. Philadelphia will retain a sell-on percentage in Sullivan as well.
The deal is unprecedented both in finances and in pathway – The deal is the richest for a homegrown player in MLS history, and while there have been pre-arranged transfers in MLS, Sullivan’s deal is believed to be the first of a pre-agreed transfer in conjunction with signing a homegrown deal.
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The closest to this arrangement was when FC Dallas signed Chris Richards to a homegrown deal before the defender left on loan for Bayern Munich’s U-19s. He was transferred to the club permanently the summer after his successful loan. Dallas and Bayern had recently entered into a strategic partnership, in that instance, while there is no connection along those lines between Philly and City.
Sullivan has a German passport, so he could have signed within the European Union upon his 16th birthday and the Union would have only been given training compensation, rather than a transfer fee they’re getting from City. This, sources say, all but required Philadelphia to include the Man City transfer as part of its homegrown deal if it hoped to receive a transfer fee for Sullivan.
Previous talents of his caliber from the United States with European Union passports, like Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna, skipped MLS and went straight to Europe, with both signing for Borussia Dortmund. Weston McKennie spent time in the FC Dallas academy but skipped signing his first professional deal with an MLS club and signed directly for Schalke.
“Cavan is undeniably a rare and extraordinary talent. At just 14-years-old his natural skill and vision are far beyond his years,” said Ernst Tanner, Philadelphia Union Sporting Director.
“His advanced soccer IQ, paired with his ability to read plays, advance the ball, and score, show just how high his ceiling will be. We are incredibly pleased to have come to an agreement to have Cavan join the Union on his first professional contract and have no doubt on the impact he will make with the club.”
The Philadelphia Union academy has produced numerous homegrown players that went on to play abroad, including Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin on loan from Leeds United), Paxten Aaronson (Vitesse on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt), Auston Trusty (Sheffield United) and Mark McKenzie (KRC Genk). Highly-rated academy graduates Jack McGlynn and Cavan’s older brother Quinn are key players in the first team.
Sullivan made his professional debut in March with the Union’s second team, providing the game-winning assist off the bench in MLS’s developmental league, MLS Next Pro.
The 14-year-old could make his first-team debut this year if he continues progressing.
Sullivan is viewed as the best American prospect in his age group and also one of the best in the world. He led the United States under-15s to the 2023 CONCACAF U-15 Championship title and earned the Golden Ball for the best player at the tournament. Sullivan played up with the Union U-17 team at the GA Cup this spring, leading his side to win the tournament.
(Photo: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)