USA's new breakout star? Sullivan living up to Premier League promise

Cavan Sullivan, at 16 years and 363 days old, became the fourth‑youngest player to represent the United States when he started in a 4‑1 friendly win over Peru. The Philadelphia Union midfielder is expected to officially join Manchester City in roughly a year, after the club secured his signing when he was just 14 in 2024. His international debut came the day after Manchester City were found guilty of breaching the bulk of the 115 financial rules they faced; the club says it will appeal the decision. Since the World Cup, Sullivan has recorded seven goals and five assists in MLS this season, with six of those goals and four of those assists coming in August and September. He has scored six goals in his last six matches and has been named to the league’s Team of the Matchday seven times, including for three consecutive matchdays. Sullivan’s emergence has coincided with a turnaround for Philadelphia Union. Under interim manager Ryan Richter, who took charge after the World Cup, the Union are unbeaten in their last 11 games, winning nine, after managing only one victory in the first 15 fixtures of the season. Sullivan has played a regular role in a right‑sided attacking midfield position, capable of drifting into a number 10 role and cutting inside onto his stronger left foot. Jonathan Tannenwald, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s main soccer correspondent, said, “It's good known that Americans are drawn to stars in sports, and as the World Cup showed, that applies to soccer too.” He added, “So it's no surprise that the state hopes for a star in men's soccer to match the many it has had in women's soccer.” Tannenwald continued, “I'm not going to say right now that Cavan Sullivan is going to be that player. It's too early to know for certain, and I've seen plenty of names not make the grade.” He noted, “Freddy Adu is among the infamous, but there are others, such as Gedion Zelalem at Arsenal. Christian Pulisic has come closest, but isn't truly there and had a worse World Cup than hoped for. Gio Reyna has never measured up to his talent.” Regarding Sullivan, Tannenwald stated, “What I will say about Sullivan is he has the work ethic to go with the talent. As his current manager at the Philadelphia Union, Ryan Richter, said recently: 'His outstanding quality is the mentality that he has, and the way that he approaches each game and each day, and that's what pushes him to get better and better.'” Tannenwald also observed, “I find him to be handling the pressure of everything pretty well.” He remarked, “Talk with him for long enough, and you'll know he's still a teenager, still finding his way with some things as any teen would.” He added, “Yes, he can come across as cocky, but he's well grounded, not just by Richter, but by having his oldest brother there in the locker room with him.” Away from the field, Sullivan benefits from a strong family background. Both of his parents, Brendan and Heike, played soccer, and his grandfather Larry progressed from a player in the 1960s to become one of the most celebrated coaches in the Philadelphia region. Tannenwald concluded, “They each support Cavan grounded too, even as they know he is the best of each of them.” Sullivan’s older brother Quinn, 22, also plays for the Union.