Cavan Sullivan at Philadelphia Union (olf Manchester City)

There was this other kid after Donovan with a lot of hype. I think he was also 14. Can't remember his name though.

 

I would argue that he deserved the hype, he just didn't quite have all the skills you need to take raw talent and turn it into success.

 

I mean, I became aware of him after his performance at the 2015 u17 world cup when he was 16, and it seemed like he instantly became the future of US soccer. Then he signs with Dortmund before he's 16, spends less than a year with the youth teams, and the rest is history.

I probably have my timeline backwards here, but before he landed with Dortmund senior team as a teenager there was like a year of Cavan level hype.

 

I don't see how you can argue that he deserved the hype.

 

His performances at youth World Cups were very good. Americans were not the only people noticing his level of play when he was a teen, and his nomination to FIFPro's Young Player of The Year award in 2005 speaks to that. The narrative the player himself now voices (which was whispered by fans and the soccer press at the time) is that he oozed natural skill, but lacked the discipline needed to hone that skill into the competitive edge one requires to stay at the highest levels.

He deserved the hype he got as a young player. What he did or did not do with his talent doesn't affect the hype. Coaches and scouts did their jobs, but that's not where a soccer star's story ends (unless you're a freak like Ronaldinho).

 

He didn't show enough soccer IQ to me. Sure he was great at getting out of a triple team, but why did he get himself in triple teams?

 

At the beginning of that U17 cycle Haji Wright and Josh Perez were the most hyped up prospects of that age group. CP was just outside of those two. But six months after that cycle started CP was the golden child. He's dominated in the Nike friendlies and the Dortmund rumors were everywhere.

 

Don't love this situation. It's too much like EPB for my taste.

 

The worst part is we have four years of off topic discussion upcoming.

 

Wonder if he would have gone to BVB had they not F'd with Reyna and a few other of their youngsters.

The last 18 months BVB really erased their reputation as a good landing spot and it might cost them significantly.

 

Scored for U21s in a friendly:



City Xtra on X: "A debut goal in ⚪️ for 15-year-old, Cavan Sullivan. ✨ @cbelfield https://t.co/ThwpfpggJs" / X

 

Don't get too excited... against a National League north team. What's that 4th division?

 

How many other 15-19 yr olds for City’s U21 squad scored in this one?

 

It's the 6th division actually lol

 

15 year old Cavan Sullivan’s first goal for Manchester City 🇺🇸🩵🤩

🎥 @sullivan_cavan IG pic.twitter.com/x2GbAITZ9l

— American Ultras Talk (@usmntaut) July 27, 2025

 

Interested to see how City really rates him as well. Id guess loan to Belgium right now, but by end of season who knows. At his age, could be a completely different player for better or worse.

 

My guess is he goes abroad now.

Philly doesn’t have a plan for him right now and part might be they know he can be on the move even mid season.

 

I agree the Union dont seem to know how to use him. I dont know if that should be taken as a bad sign. They're rebuilding, most likely nowhere near the playoffs, ideally the perfect situation for Sullivan. But he hasn't gotten consistent minutes despite overall looking pretty good the last 2 months or so when he does. Its odd how this is being handled by Philly. Maybe with the deal already done they dont really have much incentive to let him loose to raise his value more. But thats a stretch.

 

Theyve been playing him as of late

 

also - congratulations to him on graduating high school today at 16

 

Pre contracts are a doubled edged sword.

While he got to stay in Philly and develop further, Philly also knew they weren't developing him for the future or an increased sale price as price was already agreed. So they have to weigh his time/development vs kids who will be there longer term. I don't see anyone mentioning this.

Most young prospects you invest in their longer term value to cash in at a future date. So playing them as a key part has a future ROI when triggered and transfer price increase w/ production. With Cavan there's an expectation Philly plays him as if he were in that situation yet all know City could just trigger his move abroad at any of the upcoming transfer windows as he is now eligible for multiple EU leagues.

 

If I remember correctly, the deal basically said that City would evaluate where he was at 16 and go from there. He's 16 now obviously and Carnell has finally started to play him more.

I THINK Cavan stays one more season with the Union (or at least though the sprint season) then moves with the calendar change.