Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign USA prodigy Cavan Sullivan and he will join the Blues a year today
Cavan Sullivan celebrates following the USA's victory over Peru at Inter.co Stadium on September 26, 2026
Cavan Sullivan made his debut for the USA in the weekend friendly win over Peru
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In exactly a year's time Cavan Sullivan will be a Manchester City player.
No-one knows whether the predigiously talented teenager will find his way straight into the first-team set-up, whether he might bed in in the academy or whether he'll ultimately head out on loan. But this weekend has given us a glimpse into exactly what City have got their hands on with the midfielder.
Sullivan, who turns 17 today and will join City on his 18th birthday, made his debut for the USA on Saturday night, playing an hour of the friendly win over Peru.
Mauricio Pochettino has rewarded the midfielder with his first cap on the back of a stunning run of form in Major League Soccer which has seen Sullivan shine for Philadelphia Union despite being only 16. Since the summer break for the World Cup no-one has more goal contributions than the youngster and the sole player who has matched Sullivan's 13 is one Lionel Messi. Lofty company for a player who City agreed to sign in 2024.
This season has seen the youngster produce a breakthrough campaign that his talent has always suggested was coming. Coaches at club and international level have been careful not to rush his progress but his form this year made him almost impossible for Pochettino to ignore.
"If we only talk about his performance, he's doing really well in his club in Philadelphia. Talking only about that, I think he's ready, but the rest of the players too," Pochettino said of Sullivan ahead of the weekend win over Peru. "He's mature enough on the field."
Sullivan produced a composed performance in what was a comfortable US victory, with a host of young stars leading the American team as they look to the next World Cup.
"It was a really special day for me, my family," said Sullivan "It's crazy that I represented my country [with] the highest level with the men's national team, so I'm really happy to have done this. Overall, it was a really amazing night."
"There were nerves [and] I was super excited — a little bit of both," he added. "Pregame was definitely nerve-wracking, yeah."
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Pochettino wouldn't be drawn on Sullivan specifically after the game, instead praising his side as a whole. But it's clear that the teenager is here to stay in the US squad, who play Chile in the early hours of Wednesday morning before fixtures against Mexico and Canada during this international break.
Sullivan is set to add to his first cap in the coming days and his progression this season will have delighted City, who beat off competition from a host of the world's leading clubs to secure his signature. He has long been touted for greatness with his ability clear from a very young age but what many who have worked closely with Sullivan, who still lives at the family home, say is that his talent is matched by his mentality.
"A lot of attention goes on the creative things that he brings to the game," said Union interim head coach Ryan Richter, speaking to ESPN. "But the thing that stands out to me the most is his mentality and his competitiveness and the way that he approaches every single day."
There is a cautionary tale for Sullivan in the story of Freddy Adu, himself a child prodigy labelled 'the next Pele' when he signed an MLS contract at 14, just as Sullivan did two decades later. Adu was tipped for the very top and while he carved out a fine career, most of his senior football came in the States, including a spell at Union.
Adu tweeted his congratulations to Sullivan when the future City player broke the former's MLS record for the youngest debut as a 14-year-old in 2024. "That's a hard record to break and the kid did it. Well done and good luck my man," read part of Adu's tweet.
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Sullivan's test next year will be to convert his star showings Stateside to Europe and City. But this is a young man who doesn't shirk a challenge, perhaps no surprise as the youngest of four brothers. He's confident but grounded and respectful and has coped well with the significant attention he's been under over the past few years.
City are regularly in touch with Sullivan and Union to check in on his progress and well-being and the player himself is excited about moving to Manchester.
"Man City, what makes the club is the people," said Sullivan earlier this year. He'll soon be part of the family.