Cavan Sullivan Is Making MLS Look Too Small for Him | OneFootball

If you haven’t heard of Cavan Sullivan yet, well, either you're living under a rock, or you’re not following MLS as closely as you should. This 16-year-old, who’s not even old enough to drive without mom or dad in the car, is already getting international attention. And no, it’s not just hype. This kid isn’t just another promising youngster, he’s the type of talent that makes scouts fly across oceans and top European clubs start unlocking their vaults before he can even vote. And trust me, that's not an exaggeration.

Sullivan's got it all: speed, smarts, creativity, and a refined touch that, if we were in Brazil, would’ve already landed him in the elite club of players who go by just their first name. Actually, in the U.S., he's already there, at least among hardcore soccer fans. The difference is that while most young American prodigies are fighting for recognition, Sullivan's been handed it on a silver platter.

Last year, he signed the biggest contract ever for a homegrown player in MLS history. If that doesn’t tell you something, I don’t know what will. At just 16, this kid's worth more than plenty of seasoned veterans in the league. The Philadelphia Union knew exactly what they had, and they made sure to keep him around for his first professional steps here in the States, instead of letting him skip straight to Europe before even hitting the senior team.

But let’s be honest, this move is only temporary. Everyone knows that as soon as Sullivan hits 18, he's out the door, heading straight for Manchester City. Yep, you read that right. Manchester City. The same City that’s home to Pep Guardiola, Haaland, and De Bruyne. One of the biggest clubs in the world has had its eyes on him for a while now, and no matter how much MLS has grown, it doesn’t yet have the clout to hold onto talent like Sullivan.

His debut with the Union in July 2024 was a moment for the history books. He broke the record for the youngest player ever to play in MLS, a record that used to belong to Freddy Adu. Remember him? Yeah, that name always pops up when we talk about young American prodigies. And that’s the shadow Sullivan has to shake off.

U.S. soccer has a long track record of "next Pelés" who never came close to living up to the hype. Adu’s the most famous example, but you don’t have to go that far back. Gio Reyna, who came up with a similar level of hype, is still trying to find his footing in Europe. Christian Pulisic, "Captain America" himself, is a solid player, but he didn’t quite hit the superstar status some were hoping for.

So what makes Sullivan different? He’s got a plan. Unlike Adu, who got sidetracked by bad decisions and questionable clubs, Sullivan has a solid contract with a top European club and is being groomed for the transition the right way.

It’s not enough just to have talent; you’ve got to know how to use it. And for Sullivan, MLS has to be a launchpad, not a roadblock. If he spends the next couple of years just picking up minutes as a benchwarmer without getting a real chance in the starting lineup, he could lose his momentum. What happens now, while he’s still in the U.S., will be huge for his future.

MLS has come a long way, no doubt about it. But can it hold on to its best talents? Not yet. Sullivan’s just another example of a player who doesn’t see his future here, and honestly, can you blame him? If Manchester City’s knocking on your door, are you really going to say no? Of course not.

And here’s where U.S. soccer falls short. The league wants to be competitive, it wants to attract big names, it wants to develop talent. But the best players don’t stick around. They either leave too early, or show up too late. If MLS wants to be more than just a stepping stone, it needs to figure out a way to convince players like Sullivan to stay longer. The league’s great for development, but it’s got to be appealing for the peak of a player’s career, too. Otherwise, it’ll just keep being a feeder system for European clubs.

Cavan Sullivan has all the makings of the next big name in soccer. But if you want to see him in MLS, you better hurry. In two years, he’ll be in Europe, and Union fans will have to watch him on TV, like everyone else.

Will he leave his mark before he takes off? Or will he just be another talented kid who left without making a real story? That’s not just up to him, it’s up to the Union and MLS too. If they give him real chances to shine, to run the midfield, to become a true star, he could leave behind a legacy. If he’s just a name on the bench, waiting for his turn, it’ll be a wasted opportunity. What we do know is that he’s not going to wait around for long. The talent’s there, the market’s already made its decision. Now, it’s up to Philadelphia Union and MLS to decide if they’re going to cash in on this gem while they can, or watch him walk away without truly making his mark. The next big American soccer star already has his future locked in, and it’s not in the U.S.