Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan Makes MLS History as Youngest Debutant

Cavan Sullivan, the 14-year-old sensation from Philadelphia Union, made headlines with his MLS debut during a 5-1 victory over the New England Revolution. At just 14 years and 293 days old, Sullivan has become the youngest player to debut in a regular season across major North American sports leagues, surpassing the previous record held by Freddy Adu, who debuted at 14 years and 306 days for DC United in 2004.

Adu congratulated Sullivan on X (formerly Twitter), noting the difficulty of breaking such a record. Sullivan entered the game in the 85th minute, earning a warm reception from fans at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. He and his older brother Quinn Sullivan, who scored in the 84th minute, celebrated with their family post-match.

Despite Philadelphia Union's current position at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, they secured their fifth win of the season. Sullivan expressed that this debut is just the beginning and emphasized his focus on continuous development with the Union. He was particularly struck by the fans' enthusiastic response whenever he touched the ball.

Sullivan signed a significant homegrown contract through 2028 and has impressed with his performances in the club’s minor league team. There is also a release clause in his contract that could see him move to Manchester City in the English Premier League once he turns 18. The Union will next face Nashville SC on Saturday.