Who is Cavan Sullivan?: A Look into the 14 Year Old Wonder Kid

If you follow the soccer scene in America and aren’t living under a rock, you’ve probably heard the name Cavan Sullivan somewhere. But who exactly is this youngster driving all the rage and attention from soccer fans all over the world?

Who is Cavan Sullivan?

Cavan Sullivan is a 14-year-old midfielder currently playing for the MLS Next Pro team Philadelphia Union II. He weighs 150 pounds, stands at 5’7”, and wears the number six for his team. 

Sullivan grew up in a soccer family. His brother, Quinn Sullivan, who is five years older than him, has played as an attacking midfielder for Philadelphia Union’s first team since 2021. His other two brothers also play professional soccer. 

Sullivan joined Philadelphia Union’s 2009 MLS Next team in 2020, playing for one of the top teams in the nation’s best league. He then moved on to pursue greater heights, playing in the enamored Generation Adidas (GA) Cup for Philadelphia Union’s U15 and the United States Youth National Team (USYNT). Born in 2009, he was constantly playing an age up, even in the USYNT, where all of the best players are brought together. Undoubtedly, Sullivan is the cream of the cream of the crop. However, Sullivan felt the challenge wasn’t great enough and decided to move up two age groups to play for the Philadelphia Union U17’s, leading them to a second consecutive GA Cup championship. Coaches throughout the country called him “a diamond.” 

Sullivan’s Rise to Fame

Following multiple reports of Sullivan’s signing by Manchester City from credible sources, including Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, people around the world began to pay attention to the new talent from the States, a rare place for such talent to be found. Sullivan’s ability to control the midfield and create opportunities is one of his greatest qualities. Combined with his stellar passing prowess, Sullivan swiftly takes on defenders and exhibits great vision of the field. Beyond that, he displays great physicality, playing two years up in the best league the United States has to offer. Manchester City scouts even dubbed the 14-year-old as “The Current Best 14-Year-Old in the World,” reaffirming that his talent was special, even on the global stage. Many big European powerhouse teams had previously been in hot pursuit of him, including teams such as Bayern, PSG, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and even Borussia Dortmund, who have been in contact with the family since 2020. 

When it came down to the decision, Sullivan’s father stated, “The level of detail that Man City went down to in terms of the plan, the development, all the different variations and pivot points at which things could change, could toggle into something else...The level of scouting they did on Cavan, the level of scouting they did against other people in other countries all over, it was ridiculous…We truly had to look at each other and be like, ‘This can't be real, that they did this amount.’” City displayed their unmatched desire for the talent, willing to pay up to $5 million according to multiple sources. This was 20 times what Philadelphia Union could offer him. 

Unfortunately, Sullivan is unable to play in Europe until he is 18 as a result of FIFA regulations. Though he has a German passport, he would still have to wait until he is 16 to play in Germany professionally. Given this situation, Philadelphia Union leaped at the opportunity to sign the youngster in what is now considered Philadelphia Union's biggest homegrown contract ever. Though the MLS won’t be able to offer the same quality of players as the Premier League, Sullivan will be able to play at a significantly higher intensity. He won’t be playing in a regular academy setting anymore, as instead of facing opponents just two years older, he will face much older men who are sometimes even more than double his age but closer to his skill level. American forward Christian Pulisic faced a similar situation, and when he appeared at Chelsea, he played a vital role in many of their crucial games. In light of Pulisic’s successful path, fans seem to think the future looks bright for Sullivan.  

However, Sullivan seems to be unattached to his new profound fame and only looks to work harder in the future. When asked what he thought about his signing with Manchester City and his future plans, he exclaimed: “I know it will take a lot and it's gonna be a hard challenge, but I think me, my family, and my coaches are confident enough that they think I can do it and I know I have the talent and work ethic to do so… I think mentality’s gonna get me there.”

What does this mean for American soccer? 

Following the recent Generation Adidas (GA) Cups, many American fans seemed to notice the rise in competition between American academy teams and other teams around the world, including the likes of Premier League powerhouses such as Manchester United’s academy and Arsenal’s academy. Despite their constant appearances in the recent GA Cups, they have rarely made it to the final as American academies came out on top. This suggests that many top tier MLS Next academies such as FC Dallas, NYCFC, NY Red Bulls, and, of course, Philadelphia Union, are in a better position than some European academics. 

America has produced prominent players, such as Pulisic and Timothy Weah, both who now play big roles in Europe's strongest leagues. In the current day and age, Cavan Sullivan seems to be the first of many American talents to emerge.