sport news American wonderkid Cavan Sullivan, 14, signs homegrown contract with ... trends now
The Philadelphia Union has signed 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan to the largest homegrown contract in MLS history as part of a deal that will see the American wonderkid join Manchester City when he turns 18.
Mail Sport revealed back in January that City were leading the race to sign Sullivan, widely considered one of the best young prospects in world soccer.
Three months later it emerged that the Premier League giants had sealed an agreement with Philadelphia, where the youngster has played since he was 10, to snap him up in four year's time.
The Union announced on Thursday that Sullivan has penned a professional contract with the team, which includes a clause to take him to Manchester after his 18th birthday.
'I tend not to even listen to what they call me or what they say about me. It's really just what I think of myself,' the young attacking midfielder said. 'I don't really listen to anyone, whether it´s good or bad. So it doesn't really get to me whatsoever.'
Philadelphia Union has signed Cavan Sullivan, 14, to MLS' largest homegrown contract ever
The deal includes a clause to take Sullivan to Premier League giants Man City when he turns 18
Pep Guardiola's side emerged as the favorites to sign the Philadelphia Union star in January
The long-rumored deal - said to be Major League Soccer's richest Homegrown signing ever, although no details were released - allows the Union to continue to develop Sullivan and benefit in the short term from his ability, before profiting when he likely heads overseas to the Premier League. It also allows him to stay at home for a few more years.
While the fee City have agreed to pay is currently unclear, the current record for an outgoing homegrown transfer in MLS was the $20million German team Augsburg spent to sign American striker Ricardo Pepi from FC Dallas in 2022.
The deal is also understood to include significant add-ons, along with a sell-on percentage for Philadelphia.
Sullivan is considered one of the best young American players. In a match last April between the U.S. under-15 team and England in Spain, he scored both goals in a 2-2 draw that the Americans won in a penalty shootout.
He was named the best player at the CONCACAF under-15 championships. He
