Man City Prospect Cavan Sullivan Shatters Another MLS Record Amid Growing Excitement
The Philadelphia Union have a well-established tradition of promoting youth talent, and they created a memorable moment on Saturday evening with 15-year-old Cavan Sullivan.
During a 1–0 defeat against Nashville SC, the Manchester City-bound prospect earned his inaugural MLS starting position with the Union, joining a distinguished roster of academy graduates, including U.S. national team members Brendan and Paxton Aaronson, who have taken similar paths.
His starting debut was particularly noteworthy. At 15 years and 280 days old, he secured his place as the second-youngest player ever to start an MLS match, trailing only record-holder Freddy Adu, who began his first match at 14 years and 344 days old.
"These moments are valuable for his development, and it helps manage expectations, given all the attention surrounding Cavan," head coach Bradley Carnell explained to media following the game. "He occasionally gets overpowered physically, which is completely expected, so he hasn't reached the required physical maturity yet, but he possesses exceptional talent...he's exactly where he should be."
Sullivan had previously surpassed Adu's milestone as the youngest player to feature in a regular-season MLS match, entering as a substitute at 14 years and 293 days old last summer during a 5–1 Union victory against the New England Revolution.
Since that breakthrough, his appearances have been restricted to brief second-half cameos, while he has gained valuable experience with Philadelphia Union II, consistently demonstrating his development.
The Union maintained their composure with Sullivan in the lineup on Saturday, as the 2009-born midfielder contributed for 61 minutes, recording 22 touches, three passes into the attacking third, and winning nine duels, while successfully completing all three of his tackle attempts.
"We deployed Cavan in a slightly deeper wingback role when in possession," Carnell elaborated. "He had a couple of promising moments in the opening half where we could have built something in transition...Cavan naturally applies pressure on the ball, so he stays active."
This appearance brought the Philadelphia-born player's season total to 157 minutes with the senior squad, during a campaign that has also featured four goals and four assists across 1,134 minutes in MLS Next Pro with Union II. This represents another milestone in his progression, which is anticipated to culminate in his transfer to Manchester City following his 18th birthday on September 28, 2027.
Furthermore, his starting debut extended an exceptional summer for the Sullivan household, as Cavan's first start occurred one day before his elder brother and Union teammate, Quinn Sullivan, prepares to compete for a Concacaf Gold Cup championship with the USMNT against Mexico.
For Cavan, the focus remains on consistent improvement within the Union's framework and identifying areas to enhance his performance as he continues his physical development. Regarding his next potential appearance, the Union's U.S. Open Cup fixture on Wednesday against the New York Red Bulls presents another opportunity.