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Victor Petkov
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Cavan Sullivan breaks MLS record for youngest debut
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At 14 years and 293 days, he is the youngest player in any top-flight North American team sport

Fourteen-year-old Cavan Sullivan of the Philadelphia Union has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to appear in a Major League Soccer (MLS) match. Sullivan entered as an 85th-minute substitute in the Union’s 5-1 victory over the New England Revolution at Subaru Park, Pennsylvania, breaking the previous record held by Freddy Adu, who debuted at 14 years and 306 days old in 2004.

At just 14 years and 293 days, Sullivan not only set a new record for MLS but also became the youngest player in any top-flight North American team sport. His signing in May marked the biggest homegrown player deal in MLS history, underscoring the high expectations surrounding his potential.

Sullivan has expressed excitement about his future move to Manchester City when he turns 18, highlighting the collaboration between the Philadelphia Union and the City Football Group as a decisive factor in his career plans. “The collaboration between the Union and the City Group was – that did it for me. I always watch Man City. They’re like every kid’s dream team,” Sullivan told ESPN.

Former record-holder Freddy Adu congratulated Sullivan on social media, recognizing the difficulty of breaking such a record and wishing him well. “Big congrats to Cavan Sullivan for his record-breaking debut today,” Adu posted. “That’s a hard record to break and the kid did it. Well done and good luck my man.”

Philadelphia Union manager Jim Curtin praised Sullivan’s talent before his debut, telling the MLS website, “The sky’s the limit. He’s a generational talent, one who can really change the game by himself.”