Cavan Sullivan in Philadelphia Union matchday squad against NE Revolution

Philadelphia Union youngster Cavan Sullivan will be in the team’s matchday squad on July 17 when it faces off against the New England Revolution, head coach Jim Curtin announced.

“Tomorrow he will be in the 20 because he’s earned that. If you look at his performances in the Union II games, the goals that he has scored, Cavan has earned the right,” Curtin said. “The next step is working to get your first minutes and that might be one minute, might be 15 minutes… but you have to earn it.”

Sullivan made headlines in May signing the largest Homegrown player deal in Major League Soccer history. The Concacaf U15 Golden Ball winner is expected to join Manchester City as part of the deal in 2027.

If Sullivan does see minutes on Wednesday, he would be the youngest player to debut in MLS at just 14-years-old. The record is currently held by Freddy Adu who debuted at 14 years and 306 days. Sullivan would be 14 years and 292 days old. It wouldn’t hurt Philadelphia to give the youngster some minutes considering the team needs a spark to jolt their season.

The Union are currently last in the Eastern Conference. Beating New England would see the team jump them in the standings, but the Revolution have two games in hand.

If Sullivan does not debut on July 17, he would have one more MLS opportunity to take that record away from Adu. He would not only be the youngest professional player in the major North American sports leagues (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL), but also the youngest player make his debut comparable to Europe’s top five leagues.

If he debuts after July 29, then the record would stay with Adu.

Sullivan will join Manchester City in 2027 on his 18th birthday, Sept. 28.