Cavan Sullivan – aged 14 – makes MLS debut

F17-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player in Major League Soccer history on Wednesday night – and likely the youngest to play in any of the biggest professional sports leagues in the world. world.

Sullivan was 14 years and 293 days old when he entered Philadelphia’s home game as an 85th-minute substitute against the New England Revolution. That makes him about two weeks younger than Freddy Adu was when he made his MLS debut in 2004 with DC United.

Sullivan made his debut moments after his brother, 20-year-old Quinn, scored a goal to put Philadelphia up 5-1.

Cavan Sullivan, who replaced striker Tai Barib, got a few touches in the final minutes of Union’s victory. He even registered his first shot on goal, finding the New England net from outside the box in the final minute of stoppage time, but it was comfortably saved by Aljaz Ivacic.

“Huge congratulations to Cavan Sullivan on his record-breaking debut today,” Adu wrote on social media. “It’s a tough record to break and the kid did it. Well done and good luck, my man.

Sullivan is younger than any player who has played in the NBA, NHL, NFL, NWSL, WNBA or MLB since at least 1970, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The youngest debutant in the world’s top five football leagues since at least 1988, according to FBRef.com, was Ethan Nwaneri, who arrived at Arsenal in 2022 at 15 years and 181 days.

Sullivan was born in Philadelphia to two football-playing parents and joined Union’s youth academy four years ago. He made his professional debut in March with Philadelphia Union II in the MLS development league.

Future with Manchester City

In May, Sullivan signed a contract—described as the biggest local contract in MLS history, although financial details of the deal were not disclosed – it would see him transferred to English Premier League side Manchester City after turning 18 in 2027.

Sullivan said ESPN that although he always wanted to start his career in his hometown of Philadelphia, it was the collaboration between the Union and Man City that “did it” for him. “I always watch Man City. They’re like every kid’s dream team,” he said. “I sat down with my family and my agents and we decided it was the best plan.”

When asked in May about the possibility of breaking Adu’s long-standing record as the youngest MLS player ever, Sullivan he said: “I think it would be cool to obviously have my first record, but it doesn’t really matter to me if I beat it or not. I mean, everyone is on their own journey. It’s not really where you start, but where you end.”