Cavan Sullivan

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Cavan Sullivan
Personal information
Date of birth (2009-09-28) September 28, 2009 (age 14)
Place of birth Philadelphia, United States
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Philadelphia Union
Number 6
Youth career
2018–2020 FC Delco
2020–2024 Philadelphia Union
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Philadelphia Union II 2 (0)
2024– Philadelphia Union 0 (0)
International career‡
2023– United States U15 5 (5)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's soccer
CONCACAF Under-15 Championship
Winner 2023 Dominican Republic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:14, 9 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 17, 2024

Cavan Sullivan (born September 28, 2009) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Philadelphia Union. He is considered as one of the best youth prospects in the world.[1][2]

Early life[edit]

Sullivan was born on September 28, 2009, in Philadelphia. He is of Bangladeshi and German descent through his mother.[3]

Club career[edit]

As a youth player, Sullivan joined the youth academy of American side Philadelphia Union in 2020. He helped the club win the 2023 Generation Adidas Cup.[4]

On March 24, 2024, Sullivan made his professional debut, coming on in the 56th minute in an MLS Next Pro match for Philadelphia Union II.[5] Sullivan provided an assist in the 86th minute in a 2-1 victory for Philadelphia.[6]

On May 9, 2024, he signed a homegrown contract with the Philadelphia Union until 2028, making him the fifth-youngest player to sign a first-team contract in Major League Soccer history.[7] The deal was the most expensive homegrown deal in MLS history.[8] If he appears in a Union match before July 29, 2024, he will become the youngest player in MLS history, surpassing one-time prodigy Freddy Adu, and the youngest player in American professional team sports history.[9][8]

Sullivan and his family confirmed to ESPN that the contract has a clause that calls for a transfer to Manchester City once he turns 18. If he develops rapidly, he can conceivably play in Europe at age 16, but cannot do so in England. In that scenario, continental European clubs that share ownership with Man City—Spanish side Girona, Belgian side Lommel, Italian side Palermo, and French side Troyes—are seen as possible landing spots.[9]

International career[edit]

Sullivan is eligible to represent Bangladesh, Germany, the United States and England.

Sullivan has represented the United States internationally at youth level. He helped the United States boys' national under-15 soccer team win the 2023 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship.[10]

Style of play[edit]

Sullivan mainly operates as a midfielder. He is left-footed. He is known for his vision.[11]

Personal life[edit]

Sullivan is the youngest of four children. His father, Brendan, played for five clubs over a six-year professional career in the A-League, now known as the USL Championship, the second division of American soccer. Prior to that, Brendan Sullivan was an All-Ivy League selection at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and before that starred at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia. He then went on to coach at his alma mater. His mother, Heike, also played Division I soccer and captained the Penn women’s team.[12][13][14]

Cavan's oldest brother, Quinn, currently plays for the first-team of the Philadelphia Union.[15] His other older brothers, Declan and Ronan, are also soccer players, with both currently attending YSC Academy and playing for MLS NEXT affiliate FC DELCO.[16]

Cavan's older cousin is Chris Albright, an American international who played two seasons for the Union, and his grandfather is Larry Sullivan, who served as the head coach at Villanova from 1991 to 2007.[12][17] Quinn's uncle, Bryan Sullivan, was a Division I goalkeeper at Philadelphia Textile (now Division II Jefferson) and was also on the coaching staff at Villanova.[18]

His maternal grandmother is Bangladeshi and his maternal grandfather is the German-born scholar and cyberneticist Klaus Krippendorff.[19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Critchley, Tom Bogert and Mark. "U.S. youth international Sullivan, 14, in talks to join Man City". The Athletic. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "Cavan Sullivan: Man City win race for 'most exciting 14-year-old in the world' with USMNT prospect set to join Premier League giants | Goal.com US". www.goal.com. March 27, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "Cavan Sullivan, the new Leo Messi". marca.com.
  4. ^ "Cavan Sullivan: 'The sky's the limit'". inquirer.com.
  5. ^ Schneider, Jacob (March 24, 2024). "Cavan Sullivan or Kevin De Bruyne? 14-year-old USMNT prospect - who is set to sign for Manchester City - delivers pinpoint assist for Philadelphia Union II on professional debu". Goal. TPG Inc. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  6. ^ Mendola, Nicholas (March 24, 2024). "Reported Manchester City target and USYNT phenom Cavan Sullivan, 14, assists on pro debut for Philadelphia". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Philadelphia Union Sign Academy Product Cavan Sullivan In Record Homegrown Signing". Philadelphia Union. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Ondeo signs Europe's largest petrol water deal". Daily Times. May 9, 2024. doi:10.1016/s1365-6937(04)00114-5. ISSN 1365-6937.
  9. ^ a b Bonagura, Kyle (May 9, 2024). "Philadelphia Union deal with Cavan Sullivan has Man City clause". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "Cavan Sullivan: The future USMNT star set to sign with Manchester City after being labelled the 'best 14-year-old in the world'". goal.com.
  11. ^ "Who is Cavan Sullivan?". as.com.
  12. ^ a b "Quinn Sullivan is a 15-year-old ninth grader who plays center-mid for the Academy U-15s..." YSC Academy. Facebook. May 3, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "Brendan Sullivan at SoccerStats.us". SoccerStats.us. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  14. ^ "Meet the Sullivans, America's next big soccer family". backheeled.com.
  15. ^ "Curtin: Philadelphia Union Academy's Cavan Sullivan can become a "household name"". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  16. ^ "Off The Pitch | Philadelphia is home". Philadelphia Union. December 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "SOCCER: From Villanova to the Rock – Council Rock North Coach Larry Sullivan has made the adjustment". thereporteronline. December 1, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  18. ^ "Brendan Sullivan Joins Men's Soccer Staff". Villanova Wildcats. Villanova University. August 3, 2000. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  19. ^ "Meet the Sullivans, America's next big soccer family". Backheeled. May 17, 2023.

External links[edit]

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