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Cavan Sullivan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cavan Sullivan
Sullivan with the Philadelphia Union 2025
Personal information
Full name Cavan Ayaz Sullivan[1]
Date of birth (2009-09-28) September 28, 2009 (age 16)
Place of birth Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Philadelphia Union
Number 6
Youth career
2018–2020 FC Delco
2020–2024 Philadelphia Union
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024 Philadelphia Union II 2 (0)
2024– Philadelphia Union 28 (1)
2024–2025 → Philadelphia Union II (loan) 30 (10)
International career‡
2023–2024 United States U15 9 (5)
2024– United States U17 12 (4)
2024– United States U18 3 (0)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's soccer
CONCACAF Under-15 Championship
Winner2023 Dominican Republic
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 05:40, July 24, 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 13:02, 21 November 2025 (UTC)

Cavan Ayaz Sullivan (born September 28, 2009) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union.

In 2024, Sullivan became the most expensive homegrown deal in Major League Soccer history, and, per a clause in his contract, he will be able to transfer to Premier League club Manchester City when he turns 18 years old. At age 14, he became the youngest player to debut in a league match for a major American or Canadian professional sports league. In 2025 he helped Philadelphia Union to their second ever Supporters' Shield.

A youth international for the United States, Sullivan won the 2023 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship with the United States U15.

Early life

[edit]

Cavan was born on September 28, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is of German-Bangladeshi descent through his mother.[2][3][4]

As a youth player, Sullivan joined the youth academy of American side Philadelphia Union in 2020. He helped the club win the 2023 Generation Adidas Cup.[5]

Club career

[edit]

On March 24, 2024, Sullivan made his professional debut, coming on in the 56th minute in an MLS Next Pro match for Philadelphia Union II.[6] Sullivan provided an assist in the 86th minute in a 2–1 victory for Philadelphia.[7]

On May 9, 2024, he signed a homegrown contract with the Philadelphia Union until 2028, making him the fifth-youngest player to sign a first-team contract in Major League Soccer history.[8] The deal was the most expensive homegrown deal in MLS history.[9][10] Sullivan and his family confirmed to ESPN that the contract has a clause that calls for a transfer to Manchester City once he turns 18. If he develops rapidly, he can conceivably play in Europe at age 16, but cannot do so in England. In that scenario, continental European clubs that share ownership with Manchester City—Spanish side Girona, Belgian side Lommel, Italian side Palermo, and French side Troyes—would be possible destinations for a loan.[10]

Sullivan made his Major League Soccer debut for the Philadelphia Union on July 17, 2024. At 14 years and 293 days old, Sullivan became the youngest player to appear in a league match for a major professional sports league in the United States and Canada, breaking Freddy Adu's record set in 2004 by 13 days.[11][12] On July 23, he played for the MLS Next East team in the MLS Next All-Star Game and was named the most valuable player for his goal and assist in the East's 4–2 victory.[13]

On February 26, 2026, Sullivan scored two goals, his first goals for Philadelphia Union, and made two assists in a 7–0 win over Defence Force in round one of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.[14] Sullivan scored his first league goal for Philadelphia Union a 4–3 loss to Orlando City on May 13 after he was substituted into the match to replace an injured player.[15]

International career

[edit]

Sullivan is eligible to represent Germany, the United States, and Bangladesh.[16][17]

Sullivan has represented the United States internationally at youth level. He helped the United States boys' national under-15 soccer team win the 2023 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship.[18]

Style of play

[edit]

Sullivan mainly operates as a midfielder. He is left-footed. He is known for his vision.[19]

Personal life

[edit]

Cavan is the youngest of four children. His father, Brendan, played for five clubs over a six-year professional career in the A-League, now known as the USL Championship, the second division of American soccer. Prior to that, Brendan was an All-Ivy League selection at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and before that starred at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia. He then went on to coach at his alma mater. His mother, Heike, also played Division I soccer and captained the Penn women's team.[20][21][22]

Cavan's oldest brother, Quinn, plays for the Philadelphia Union.[23] His other older brothers, Declan and Ronan, are also soccer players, with both attending YSC Academy and playing for MLS Next affiliate FC DELCO, as of December 2023.[24]

Cavan's older cousin is Chris Albright, an American international who played two seasons for the Union, and his grandfather is Larry Sullivan, who served as the head coach at Villanova from 1991 to 2007.[20][25] Cavan's uncle, Bryan Sullivan, was a Division I goalkeeper at Philadelphia Textile (now Division II Jefferson) and was also on the coaching staff at Villanova.[26]

His maternal grandfather is Klaus Krippendorff.[4]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played July 22, 2026[27]
Club Season League U.S. Open Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Philadelphia Union II 2024 MLS Next Pro 20———20
Philadelphia Union 2024 MLS 3000——30
2025 MLS 11030—1[a]0150
2026 MLS 141—4[b]200183
Total 281304210303
Philadelphia Union II (loan) 2024 MLS Next Pro 18 4 — — 4[c] 1 22 5
2025 MLS Next Pro 14 6 — — — 14 6
Total 30 10 — — 4 1 36 11
Career total 62113042517414
  1. ↑ Appearance in MLS Cup playoffs
  2. ↑ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in MLS Next Pro playoffs

Honors

[edit]

Philadelphia Union

United States U15

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "LISTE D'ÉQUIPE" (PDF). FIFA. September 12, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Cavan Sullivan, the new Leo Messi". Marca. March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  3. ↑ "US soccer sensation Sullivan's Bangladeshi heritage".
  4. 1 2 "Meet the Sullivans, America's next big soccer family". Backheeled. May 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Cavan Sullivan: 'The sky's the limit'". inquirer.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ↑ Schneider, Jacob (March 24, 2024). "Cavan Sullivan or Kevin De Bruyne? 14-year-old USMNT prospect - who is set to sign for Manchester City - delivers pinpoint assist for Philadelphia Union II on professional debu". Goal. TPG Inc. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  7. ↑ Mendola, Nicholas (March 24, 2024). "Reported Manchester City target and USYNT phenom Cavan Sullivan, 14, assists on pro debut for Philadelphia". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Philadelphia Union Sign Academy Product Cavan Sullivan In Record Homegrown Signing" (Press release). Philadelphia Union. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ondeo signs Europe's largest petrol water deal". Daily Times. 2004 (2): 4. May 9, 2024. doi:10.1016/s1365-6937(04)00114-5. ISSN 1365-6937.
  10. 1 2 Bonagura, Kyle (May 9, 2024). "Philadelphia Union deal with Cavan Sullivan has Man City clause". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Philadelphia's Cavan Sullivan, 14, breaks Freddy Adu's youngest MLS player mark". The Guardian. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  12. ↑ Reineking, Jim (July 17, 2024). "Cavan Sullivan becomes youngest in US major sports to make pro debut". USA Today. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  13. ↑ Sigal, Jonathan (July 23, 2024). "Cavan Sullivan: Philadelphia Union sensation leads MLS NEXT All-Star Game comeback". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  14. ↑ Quillen, Ian Nicholas (February 27, 2026). "Manchester City-Bound Teen Scores 1st Goals for MLS Club in Concacaf Rout". GiveMeSport. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  15. ↑ DeGeorge, Matthew (May 14, 2026). "Cavan Sullivan's first goal can't make up for Union's latest capitulation". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Cavan Sullivan, the new Leo Messi". marca.com. March 20, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  17. ↑ "'লতায়-পাতায়' বাংলাদেশি ফুটবলার যোগ দিলেন ম্যান সিটিতে". Independent Television. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  18. 1 2 "Cavan Sullivan: The future USMNT star set to sign with Manchester City after being labelled the 'best 14-year-old in the world'". goal.com.
  19. ↑ "Who is Cavan Sullivan?". as.com. March 17, 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Quinn Sullivan is a 15-year-old ninth grader who plays center-mid for the Academy U-15s..." YSC Academy. Facebook. May 3, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Brendan Sullivan at SoccerStats.us". SoccerStats.us. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Meet the Sullivans, America's next big soccer family". backheeled.com. May 17, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Curtin: Philadelphia Union Academy's Cavan Sullivan can become a "household name"". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Off The Pitch | Philadelphia is home". Philadelphia Union. December 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  25. ↑ "SOCCER: From Villanova to the Rock – Council Rock North Coach Larry Sullivan has made the adjustment". thereporteronline. December 1, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2022.[dead link]
  26. ↑ "Brendan Sullivan Joins Men's Soccer Staff". Villanova Wildcats. Villanova University. August 3, 2000. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  27. ↑ "C. Sullivan". Soccerway. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Philadelphia Union win 2025 Supporters' Shield". Major League Soccer. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
[edit]
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