Philadelphia Union sign 14-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan to record deal

The Philadelphia Union have signed 14-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan to a four-year deal through 2028 for the largest homegrown contract in Major League Soccer history, the club announced on Thursday.

The Philadelphia Union have signed 14-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan to a four-year deal through 2028 for the largest homegrown contract in Major League Soccer history, the club announced on Thursday. “This is a historic day for the Philadelphia Union. It is not often, in any sport, that you get to sign a generational talent, especially here in Philadelphia in soccer,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said in Sullivan’s introductory news conference Thursday. Sullivan becomes the youngest player in club history to be added to the first-team roster, and the fifth youngest player to ink a first-team contract in MLS history. If the 14-year-old midfielder makes his debut for the Union on or before July 29, 2024, “he will become the youngest player to make his debut among the top North American professional sports leagues (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL) as well as the youngest player to make his debut among the top five European soccer leagues,” according to the Union. “We’re certainly not afraid of putting him on the field at any time,” Curtin said on Thursday when Sullivan could make his first-team debut. “He’s going to work hard and make it on the field on merit first and foremost. “I’ll just say it publicly, it’s a lot closer than people may realize. You know, again, our team whatever you need that week, he’s going to be called upon quickly because he deserves it.”