He is called a phenomenon, a child prodigy, but Cavan Sullivan himself shrugs off those terms. However, there is no doubt that he is very talented. On Thursday, his American club, Philadelphia Union, announced that the youth player has signed a contract that will ultimately take him to British Premier League club Manchester City. Beautifully decked out in costume, Sullivan was introduced as the team’s most recent addition.
Although exact amounts remain a closely guarded secret, it is reportedly the most expensive private training agreement in the history of American Major League Soccer. “I tend not to listen to what people call me or what they say about me,” Sullivan remains cool in the face of all the attention. “I don’t really listen to anyone, whether it’s good or bad. So it doesn’t affect me at all.”
Philadelphia is not allowed to reveal details of the built-in transfer to Man City, but Sullivan indicated that the City group’s involvement was a key motivation for signing a deal with his parent club. “I always watch Man City. They are every kid’s dream team. Philadelphia and Man City sat together and agreed on ‘something’. “With my family and my agents, I decided this was the best plan.”
Youtube-ster
Sullivan is considered one of the best American players of his generation. On YouTube, some of the compilation videos showing the midfielder’s goals, assists and dribbles have been viewed more than a hundred thousand times. In the international match for under-15s between the US and England, which ended in a 2-2 draw, Sullivan scored both American goals in April. He was also named the best player of the Concacaf under-15 tournament.
He made his professional debut last month, as a substitute for Philadelphia Union’s MLS Next team, and provided the assist for the winning goal. The teenager also hopes to make his debut for the first team this year. If he succeeds before July 29, he will become the youngest player ever in the MLS. The record is now held by Freddy Adu, who was 14 years and 306 days old when he appeared between the lines for DC United in 2004.
Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin recently called Sullivan “a special top talent, not just in this country but worldwide.” He is the youngest of four brothers, the eldest, Quinn (20), also plays for Philadelphia. When he was 10, he first attracted the attention of the club. “I think that was really the moment where I thought, it’s happening. It didn’t feel real, but it triggered something in my brain that made me think: I can do this.”
Boring teenager
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, Manchester City would pay more than 5 million dollars (4.65 million euros) to activate a pre-agreed clause in Sullivan’s contract, which should take him to the Premier League at the age of 18 – since Brexit Foreign players under the age of 18 are not allowed to be recruited in England. “I think my goal is to become a regular player within the next two years (for Philadelphia, ed.),” Sullivan said at his presentation. “And once I’m 18, I hope to be at the level of the Man City first team.”
Whether this will actually succeed remains to be seen. The battle for talent starts earlier and earlier, but Sullivan wouldn’t be the first to be unable to take the step. Freddy Adu also never lived up to the high expectations: he played for fifteen clubs in fifteen years and eventually ended up anonymously at the Swedish Österlen FF. However, Sullivan isn’t looking too far ahead. In many ways he is a typical teenager, albeit a very gifted one. “I’m a pretty boring guy, to be honest.” And, his mother adds: “He is a balanced boy, who has both feet on the ground. He should get a lot of credit for that.”
