Cavan Ayaz Sullivan (born September 28, 2009) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.
In March 2024, Sullivan became the most expensive homegrown deal in Major League Soccer history, signing with the Philadelphia Union until 2028. At age 14, he became the youngest player to debut in a league match for a major American or Canadian professional sports league. He alternated with the club's reserve team for the next two seasons and had his senior team breakthrough at age 16 in the later 2026 season.
A youth international for the United States, Sullivan won the 2023 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship with the United States U15.
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Early life
Cavan was born on September 28, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is of German-Bangladeshi descent through his mother.
As a youth player, Sullivan joined the youth academy of American side Philadelphia Union in 2020. He helped the club win the 2023 Generation Adidas Cup.
Club career
2024–2025: Debut and development
On March 24, 2024, Sullivan made his professional debut, coming on in the 56th minute in an MLS Next Pro match for Philadelphia Union II. Sullivan provided an assist in the 86th minute in a 2–1 victory for Philadelphia. On May 9, 2024, he signed a homegrown contract with the Philadelphia Union until 2028, making him the fifth-youngest player to sign a first-team contract in Major League Soccer history. The deal was the most expensive homegrown deal in MLS history. Sullivan and his family confirmed to ESPN that the contract has a clause that calls for a transfer to Premier League club Manchester City once he turns 18.
Sullivan made his Major League Soccer debut for the Philadelphia Union on July 17, 2024. At 14 years and 293 days old, Sullivan became the youngest player to appear in a league match for a major professional sports league in the United States and Canada, breaking Freddy Adu's record set in 2004 by 13 days. He mostly played for the Philadelphia Union II reserve team to develop in the 2024 MLS Next Pro season, finishing with eight goal contributions. On July 23, he played for the MLS Next East team in the MLS Next All-Star Game and was named the most valuable player for his goal and assist in the East's 4–2 victory. He returned to the Union II in the 2025 MLS Next Pro season, gaining 11 goal contributions in Next Pro before returning to the first team as a substitute option.
2026: Breakthrough season
On February 26, 2026, Sullivan scored two goals, his first goals for Philadelphia Union, and made two assists in a 7–0 win over Defence Force in round one of the CONCACAF Champions Cup at age 16, winning Man of the Match. Sullivan scored his first league goal for Philadelphia Union a 4–3 loss to Orlando City on May 13 after he was substituted into the match to replace an injured player. He was ranked #39 on the 2026 Goal NXGN list of the 50 best teenage wonderkids in the world.
Breaking into the Union as a first-team starter in the second half of the 2026 season, on August 9, he scored and created an assist in the 3–1 win over Necaxa in the 2026 Leagues Cup. On August 16, he created 2 assists 3–2 win over New York City FC. Sullivan received a red card on August 19, 2026, near the end of a 2–2 draw with Inter Miami after he became involved in a scuffle after his older brother, Quinn, was stepped on by Miami player Ian Fray. After being stepped on by Fray, the older Sullivan body-slammed Fray to the ground and Sullivan and Miami player Yannick Bright engaged in a scuffle after Sullivan ran over in defense of his older brother. Bright and Sullivan both received red cards, and Quinn received a yellow card. Five days later, Sullivan's red card and an accompanying fine was unanimously rescinded by the league's Independent Review Panel. In the In the following match on August 22–which was against Austin FC–Sullivan scored the first goal of the 1–1 draw. The game, which had its kick-off delayed due to extreme heat, began with temperatures at 101 °F (38 °C). He scored in his third consecutive game in a row in the 2–0 win over CF Montréal on September 5, which also broke Freddy Adu's league record of the most to-date season goal contributions by a 16 year old (11), and Sullivan became the first teenager in the league to have a goal contribution in five successive matches. On September 13, he scored two goals for his first brace in the 5–0 victory over San Diego FC, which accounted for five goals and six assists in his previous league matches.
International career
Sullivan is eligible to represent Germany, the United States, and Bangladesh. He has represented the United States internationally at youth level. He helped the United States boys' national under-15 soccer team win the 2023 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship.
He earned his first senior team callup by coach Mauricio Pochettino in September 2026 for the first four matches of the 2030 World Cup cycle, which at 16 years old made him second youngest American callup after Freddy Adu.
Style of play
Sullivan mainly operates as a midfielder. He is left-footed. He is known for his vision.
Personal life
Cavan is the youngest of four children. His father, Brendan, played for five clubs over a six-year professional career in the A-League, now known as the USL Championship, the second division of American soccer. Prior to that, Brendan was an All-Ivy League selection at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and before that starred at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia. He then went on to coach at his alma mater. His mother, Heike, also played Division I soccer and captained the Penn women's team.
Cavan's oldest brother, Quinn, plays for the Philadelphia Union. His other older brothers, Declan and Ronan, are also soccer players, with both attending YSC Academy and playing for MLS Next affiliate FC DELCO, as of December 2023. Cavan's older cousin is Chris Albright, an American international who played two seasons for the Union, and his grandfather is Larry Sullivan, who served as the head coach at Villanova from 1991 to 2007. Cavan's uncle, Bryan Sullivan, was a Division I goalkeeper at Philadelphia Textile (now Division II Jefferson) and was also on the coaching staff at Villanova. His maternal grandfather is Klaus Krippendorff.
Career statistics
Club
As of match played September 13, 2026
Honors
Philadelphia Union
Supporters' Shield: 2025
United States U15
CONCACAF Under-15 Championship: 2023