Who is Cavan Sullivan? Premier League champions Manchester City close to signing USMNT “wonderkid”

Premier League and Champions League holders Manchester City look to have beaten Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to the signing of American teenager Cavan Sullivan, one of the most promising young players in world soccer who is currently part of the academy at MLS club Philadelphia Union.

City deal for Sullivan to be completed “soon”

Italian journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported the news on Sunday, claiming a deal was expected to be finalised “soon”.

“Manchester City are closing in on deal to sign American wonderkid Cavan Sullivan, deal agreed!” Romano revealed on social network X. “2009 born talent set to join MCFC in the next years from Ph. Union despite Real, BVB, Bayern interest. City Academy, doing excellent job on talents. Here we go, soon.”

Sullivan is just 14 years old but plays for the Union’s Under-17 team. However, he featured for Philadelphia Union II in preseason and their head coach, Marlon LeBlanc, stated last week he would “really start to work him into the second team” after the GA (Generation Adidas) Cup, a youth tournament which runs from 30 March to 7 April.

What kind of player is Cavan Sullivan? Position, attributes...

There has already been a significant amount of hype surrounding Sullivan, who City believe is “the best 14 year old in the world,” according to former USMNT player and current MLS Apple TV commentator Taylor Twellman. The ex-New England Revolution attacker even suggested the youngster could offer something to the Union’s first team in MLS right now.

A left-footed attacking midfielder, Sullivan’s greatest strengths are his vision and eye for goal.

He is eligible to play for Germany through his German mother but has already featured for the United States at Under-15 level, leading the Stars and Stripes to the Under-15 CONCACAF title last August at the end of just 13.