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Cavan Sullivan may be grabbing headlines at Philadelphia Union, but another teenager is quietly carving out a reputation for himself at Subaru Park: Malik Jakupovic.
The 17-year-old, contracted through 2030 with an additional season option, has been working under the radar, making brief appearances for the senior side. He isn't shattering records like Sullivan, nor is he commanding regular starts like fellow young American Neil Pierre.
Jakupovic is more of a gradual rise. The Michigan-born talent only made his MLS debut in March, and he is still yet to earn his first start. Just two of his last five appearances have lasted longer than one minute.
Yet the potential is undeniable, so much so that clubs throughout Europe are keeping a close eye on Jakupovic. The striker already attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund during the summer, with reports suggesting the Union turned down a bid from the German club for their prized youngster.
Now even more clubs are entering the picture, keen to potentially land the next promising young American goalscorer. Premier League connections are circulating, while Bundesliga interest appears to remain firm.
This level of transfer speculation, for a player with just one senior goal to his name, says a great deal, as do Jakupovic's performances in MLS NEXT Pro.
From Academy Standout to Burgeoning Star
Three years ago, Jakupovic joined the Union's academy. At just 14 years old, the forward made Philadelphia his home, with ambitions of climbing through the ranks and one day helping the club claim its first-ever MLS Cup.
By the time 2025 arrived, Jakupovic was establishing himself with the Union's reserve side. The teenager made 19 appearances in MLS NEXT Pro and found the net eight times throughout the campaign, finishing as the team's second-highest scorer in his debut season.
The Union took note, calling Jakupovic up for their early Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures in 2026. He made his official senior debut in the team's 7–0 demolition of Defence Force, setting a pattern in motion.
Jakupovic would receive first-team call-ups, feature from the bench or not at all, and then return to Philadelphia Union II, where he would impress enough to earn another promotion to the senior squad.
This cycle continued as the season progressed. Jakupovic would score in MLS NEXT Pro, get a taste of first-team action, and then head back to shining in the second tier.
It wasn't until September that Jakupovic secured a consistent place in Ryan Richter's setup, and the run of games proved transformative. In his third straight appearance with the Union, the 17-year-old netted his first MLS goal, a close-range finish in stoppage time during Philadelphia's 5–0 victory over San Diego FC.
Lack of Minutes Could Push Jakupovic Toward Europe
Playing time remains hard to come by, however. You might expect Jakupovic's goal to open the door to more minutes, but he managed just one minute across the Union's two victories over Real Salt Lake and Chicago Fire following the September-October international break.
Patience will be essential for Jakupovic to truly cement his place in the first team. The Union's attack is in devastating form right now, netting 23 goals across their last six matches. Sullivan is performing brilliantly, Bruno Damiani is scoring with ease, and somehow Milan Iloski is outshining them both.
Realistically, there is little room for Jakupovic to break into Richter's starting XI, particularly with the MLS Cup playoffs less than a month away. The silver lining is that the young American carries himself with exceptional professionalism.
"Malik has shown tremendous growth since joining our academy, and his maturity at just 16 years old reflects his professionalism and dedication," Philadelphia sporting director Jon Scheer said of Jakupovic back in April.
Scheer emphasized how eager the club is to continue nurturing Jakupovic. But as European interest continues to grow, the striker may opt to pursue his development overseas, where greater opportunities, higher wages, and bigger stages await.
Making an impact in one of Europe's top five leagues would also be a reliable way to attract U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino's attention.
Jakupovic Waiting for His USMNT Moment
Jakupovic was left on the sidelines as Pochettino called up eight teenagers and 13 uncapped players in total for four autumn friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada. His Philadelphia teammates Sullivan and Pierre were among the young players taking the spotlight during the September-October international break.
With so little first-team experience at the Union, it would have been a genuine surprise to see Jakupovic receive his first call-up from Pochettino. Instead, the manager opted for youngsters with greater experience to lead the attack, such as Julian Hall and Justin Ellis.
The two forwards, alongside Sullivan, accounted for six of the USMNT's 12 goals last window. They are now firmly embedded in Pochettino's plans, as are established names like Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi.
Jakupovic remains on the periphery for now, but it feels like only a matter of time before he forces his way into the squad. He netted an impressive eight goals at the Concacaf U-17 Championship to help the U.S. qualify for the 2026 U-17 World Cup, and also scored on his debut for the U-18 side.
It may take a little longer for Jakupovic to make his breakthrough with the senior national team, given the competition ahead of him. But there is little question that a high-profile move to Europe—or even just the sustained speculation surrounding one—would go a long way toward catching Pochettino's eye.