Future Man City star Cavan Sullivan becomes YOUNGEST player in MLS history as American wonderkid makes Philadelphia Union debut at 14

Future Man City midfielder Cavan Sullivan, 14, became the youngest player in MLS history on Wednesday night as he made a substitute appearance for the Philadelphia Union.

The teenager, who will move to Man City in 2027 after turning 18, entered the match in the 85th minute with his side winning 5-1 against the New England Revolution - after his brother, Quinn, scored a beautiful strike from distance for Philly.

Cavan is 14 years and 293 days old, surpassing Freddy Adu as the league's youngest-ever player.

The former DC United prodigy was 14 years and 306 days old when he debuted in 2004.

Not only is Sullivan the youngest MLS player ever, but also the youngest debutant in the history of the major North American men's sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL).

In May, Sullivan signed the largest homegrown contract in MLS history with the Union, with the deal including a clause stipulating his eventual move to City.

Prior to his first team appearance on Wednesday, he had scored in each of his last two games for the Union's reserves.

He peppered the Revolution's goal with a left-footed shot from outside the box after coming on, but the effort was at an easy height for goalie Aljaz Ivacic.

Union coach Jim Curtin, who called Sullivan a 'generational talent' in June, said this week that he had 'earned the right' to be in the squad based on his recent performances with Union II.

'He'll get that opportunity now and the next step is working hard to get your first minutes. Sometimes that might be one minute, that might be 15 minutes, that might be 90 minutes,' Curtin said, via the MLS website. 'But you have to earn it and I think Cavan understands that and recognizes it.' 

He continued, 'When we're at training, there are still two or three moments where he does something where you go, 'Okay I can't teach that. That's something that's ingrained in a young kid where his talent is elite.'' 

Cavan's brother, Quinn, is 20 and has played for the Union's first team since 2021.