Cavan Sullivan to join from Philadelphia Union
It’s been rumoured for a number of weeks, but Manchester City now have a deal in place with Philadelphia Union to sign their teenage sensation Cavan Sullivan. The attacking midfielder, born in the US, has been highly sought after, but City stepped in to get an agreement in place.
When people talk about Manchester City, they talk about the City of today, the team that is winning Premier League titles and is the favourite to do so again this term, according to Premier League betting markets. While all that is well and good, City want to dominate, and the way to do that is to bring in the young talent that will come to the fore in years to come, with the signing of Sullivan evidence of this long-term strategy.
Sullivan is just fourteen years old and won’t turn fifteen until late September. So it’s unlikely he will be arriving at the Etihad anytime soon, with the idea being for him to head to Manchester when he’s turned eighteen. However, because the City Football Group, or CFG, has a wealth of clubs under its impressive umbrella, he could depart Philadelphia Union before his eighteenth birthday to begin his development towards being a City player further down the line.
While some clubs appear to neglect North America when looking for footballing talent, it’s a region that City have always kept a close eye on, with former goalkeeper Zack Steffen having also joined from the USA previously. In Sullivan’s case, the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid were reported to have registered an interest in the player dubbed ‘Captain America’ by those who have worked and played with him. However, City made their position clear from the outset and showed their intent, which proved significant.
He may be fourteen, but Sullivan has already made his professional debut, and he’s also helped the USNMNT U15s to success in the CONCACAF Championship 2023. The midfielder showed his class by also winning the Player of the Tournament award. It was at this point that a lot more clubs stood up and took notice of a young footballer with serious potential, but City were already on his trail and ready to strike.
For a player tipped to go right to the very top, it was never going to be a cheap deal to acquire his services for the future, so it will come as no surprise that the agreement is the richest ever for a homegrown player in the entire history of the MLS. It’s also been suggested that included in the deal is a significant sell-on clause, as well as various add-ons, which could and probably will boost the total fee.
For now, City fans are going to have to wait to see Sullivan on the Etihad pitch. But, if he develops in a way that sees his ability surpass the level of football in the MLS, he could be on the move to another CFG club to continue his development, and this would certainly add more weight to the idea that he’s a special talent.