The most newsworthy debut of the year in US men’s soccer lasted just eight minutes on a midsummer Wednesday evening in Chester, Pennsylvania. The debutant’s actions consisted largely of pressing the opposition, one loose touch, and an easily saved shot from distance as the game’s last action. He also completed some tidy passes, made intelligent runs, and withstood a physical challenge from an MLS veteran that knocked him to the turf.
As debuts go, it’s a blip on the radar. As debuts for 14-year-olds go, though, it was extraordinary.
Related: Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan, 14, breaks Freddy Adu’s youngest MLS player mark
Cavan Sullivan’s cameo at the tail end of the Union’s 5-1 win over New England made him the youngest-ever athlete in the history of North American team sports. It’s a milestone that has kickstarted some age-old conversations: about how young is too young for an athlete to be put in that position, and whether the world of American soccer is really equipped to handle a young player given so much attention so early on.
It speaks highly of Sullivan’s professional prospects that his ability on the field isn’t even remotely in question. He has been a regular on US youth teams, playing with the U-15 squad in 2023 when he was just 13 years old, and winning the Golden Ball award at the Concacaf U-15 championship later that year. Coaches were near-unanimous in their praise. Union head coach Jim Curtin predicted he would be a household name. Big clubs were circling, with Manchester City among the clubs expressing interest in bringing the youngster over to continue his footballing education.
In May, he signed a unique deal that made him the youngest first-team professional in the history of the Union, a team renowned for its academy system. Sullivan now owns the most lucrative homegrown contract in MLS history, and one with a clause that stipulates he will move to Man City when he turns 18 (and potentially beforehand).
Shortly after signing, Sullivan started making appearances for Philadelphia Union II, the club’s reserve team that plays in the third-tier MLS Next Pro. He compiled 10 appearances in the developmental circuit, notching an assist on his first appearance, another a a few games later, and then two goals in as many games just before his elevation to the first team this week.
And then, on Wednesday, came the most-celebrated and closely watched final eight minutes of a blowout ever.
“This is just the start,” Sullivan…