Future Premier League midfielder Cavan Sullivan became the youngest-ever player in MLS history – breaking former wonderkid Freddy Adu’s record.
Sullivan made his debut off the bench for the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night in the 85th minute with his side winning 5-1 against the New England Revolution. The starlet made his bow aged 14 years and 293 days, breaking Adu’s record of 14 years and 306 days when he debuted for DC United in 2004.
The teenager is set to one day grace these shores after agreeing a deal to join Manchester City. Sullivan signed the largest homegrown country in MLS history with the Union in May, with the deal including a clause that he would join City when he turns 18.
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Sullivan had scored in his two games prior to making his MLS bow for Union’s reserve team and almost continued his form when he saw a left-footed shot from outside the box saved by Revolution goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic. Footage from after the game captured Sullivan running over to his family, hugging and embracing them as young fans behind him called his name for autographs.
Union head coach Jim Curtin previously called Sullivan a “generational talent” in June and said earlier this week that the 14-year-old had “earned the right” to be among the first team based on his recent performances with Union II. “He'll get that opportunity now and the next step is working hard to get your first minutes,” Curtin said, as per the MLS Website.
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“Sometimes that might be one minute, that might be 15 minutes, that might be 90 minutes. But you have to earn it and I think Cavan understands that and recognizes it,” he added. “When we're at training, there are still two or three moments where he does something where you go, 'Okay I can't teach that. That's something that's ingrained in a young kid where his talent is elite.'”
Adu was previously pinned as the star of football in the United States and was even touted to be the next Pele, even meeting the Brazilian legend when the famous picture of him being held aloft in Pele’s arms was taken.
However, Sullivan will be hoping his career is a complete contrast to Adu’s. The 17-time USMNT international virtually fell into the history books by 2011 after he returned to the MLS following a disastrous stint at Benfica and a loan spell to Monaco, failed to appear for the national team again afterwards.
His journeyman career ended in 2018 at Las Vegas Lights before a two-year hiatus finished when he joined third-tier Swedish side Osterlen FF, but his contract was terminated only a month after he signed.
