Cavan Sullivan Becomes Youngest MLS Player at 14

Cavan Sullivan at just 14 years and 293 days old has made history as the youngest player ever in Major League Soccer (MLS) with the Philadelphia Union. Sullivan, who recently signed with the Union in May under the largest homegrown player deal in MLS history, made his debut as an 85th-minute substitute during a 5-1 victory over the New England Revolution at Subaru Park. Sullivan broke the previous record set by Freddy Adu, who was 14 years and 306 days old when he played for DC United in 2004. This achievement also makes Sullivan the youngest North American player in the top flight of any team sport.

Sullivan, who will join Manchester City when he turns 18, expressed his excitement about the milestone. He described the atmosphere at the stadium as “electric” and “absolute chaos” following his brother Quinn’s goal just before his substitution. Sullivan, though thrilled with his debut, views it as just the beginning of his career. “This is just the start. I am really happy to have done this but it is honestly the first box checked off. I know it is all about where you finish, not where you start,” Sullivan said.

Freddy Adu, now 35, congratulated Sullivan on breaking his long-standing record and acknowledged the difficulty of the feat. Sullivan’s move to Manchester City reflects his ambition and the collaboration between the Union and the City Group, which he considers a dream opportunity. Philadelphia Union manager Jim Curtin praised Cavan Sullivan as a “generational talent” with the potential to significantly impact the game. Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest male player to debut in the English top flight, making his Arsenal debut at 15 years and 181 days in 2022.