Cavan Sullivan has been on football’s radar since he became the youngest player in the history of the major North American sports leagues to make his regular-season debut.
He was 14 years, 293 days old.
A wonderkid with a pre-agreement to join Manchester City when he turns 18, Sullivan has spent the last two years carrying the weight of expectation that comes with being labelled the next big thing.
But while the attention has never really gone away, something has changed this summer. Sullivan didn’t take a break during the World Cup. He trained with Philadelphia Union, played games with Union II and kept working. Since the MLS season resumed, he has started eight of nine games across all competitions.
Now, the teenager isn’t simply being introduced to the game. He’s becoming an important part of his team. Two assists against NYCFC after scoring and assisting in the game before. A growing maturity to his game, matched by the rawness and swagger that made him so exciting in the first place.
There’s still plenty to learn. But when Sullivan gets the ball, there’s a feeling that something is going to happen.
The wonderkid everyone has been watching is just getting started.
PHI