Philadelphia Union deal with Cavan Sullivan has Man City clause - ESPN

The Philadelphia Union have signed 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan to the largest homegrown contract in Major League Soccer history, with an agreement to transfer the phenom to English Premier League power Manchester City after he turns 18.

Philadelphia was not authorized to discuss details about the built-in transfer to Man City, but Sullivan confirmed to ESPN that Man City's involvement contributed to his decision to sign with his hometown club. His older brother, Quinn, 20, has been a first-team player since 2021.

«I've always wanted to start my career here because this is my home and I've always been on the sidelines of Quinn's games and I've been in and around the facility when my uncle worked here,» Sullivan told ESPN. «So, I've always been inspired and to play in front of this culture, and these fans are special.

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»But I also think the collaboration between the Union and the City Group was — I think that did it for me. I always watch Man City. They're like every kid's dream team. For them [Philadelphia and Man City] to come together and agree on something — I sat with my family and my agents and we decided that it was the best plan."

Financial details were not disclosed.

Sullivan is the fifth-youngest player to a sign a first-team contract in league history. If he appears for the Union before July 29 — which is the expectation — he would surpass onetime prodigy Freddy Adu as the youngest player to appear in MLS.

«I think it would be cool to obviously have my first record, but it doesn't really matter to me if I beat it or not,» Sullivan said of Adu's record. «I mean, everyone's on their own journey. It's not really where you start, it's about where you finish.»

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