Manchester City is preparing to welcome Philadelphia Union's rising star, Cavan Sullivan, to the City Football Academy this week. This move marks one of the most high-profile youth signings by the Premier League giants in recent times.
The long-term recruitment of 15-year-old midfielder Sullivan from Major League Soccer (MLS) has been a significant talking point. The young talent has already earned a reputation as one of the finest prospects in football following his performances both domestically and at youth international level.
Although Sullivan will not officially complete his switch to Manchester City until 2027, preparations are underway for him to immerse himself into their environment at the City Football Academy.
Philadelphia Union player, Cavan Sullivan, said:
“I always watch Manchester City. They’re like every kid’s dream team,” he said after signing with the Union. For them to come together and agree on something… I sat with my family and my agents and we decided that it was the best plan.”
Historic agreement between clubs
Philadelphia Union confirmed back in May 2024 that they had reached an unprecedented agreement with Manchester City over Sullivan's future transfer. This followed after they signed him on what was reported as the largest homegrown contract in MLS history. Renowned sports journalist Fabrizio Romano recently updated that Cavan Sullivan is set to fly out to England this week. He will commence his first training camp with Manchester City ahead of formally joining them three years from now.
With regulations stipulating that players must be at least 18-years-old before making a European switch and signing professional contracts, this move has been placed on hold until he reaches legal age. However, this summer marks the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey for this USA wonderkid at Manchester City.
Manchester City sees Cavan Sullivan as an elite talent for their future squad and have designed a carefully structured development plan around him. After spending time training alongside some top-tier players and coaches in England, he will return stateside where he'll continue playing with Philadelphia Union while maintaining close communication with his future club. This arrangement provides Sullivan with an invaluable early taste of the standards required at an elite level. It also allows Manchester City to begin establishing a strong personal relationship with him, both on and off the pitch.
