Cavan Sullivan is a 16-year-old midfielder who plays for Philadelphia Union II. Despite his age, he has already produced 6 goals and 5 assists in 14 appearances this season. The teenager also accumulated playing time with the senior team. The youngest MLS debutant at just 14, he is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents the U.S. has produced. Reports suggest that he has already agreed to a pre-contract with Manchester City and will move to Europe upon his 18th birthday.
Sullivan is approximately 5’7’’ (172cm) with a slim build and an elegant left foot. He possesses excellent mobility, combining strong pace with sharp acceleration, fluid body coordination, and quick footwork and agility. At 16, he lacks upper-body strength and can be outmuscled against more physical or experienced players. At Union, Sullivan typically operates as one of the two attacking midfielders in a 4-2-2-2 system or as the right or left midfielder in a 4-4-2 diamond. He is occasionally deployed deeper in midfield, where he can fully utilize his playmaking qualities.
Sullivan stays behind the ball well to offer support, shows good body posture to receive, and turns sharply into space to progress play. He moves constantly to create separation and find pockets of space. He transitions quickly from defense to attack, taking up smart counterattacking positions to exploit space and looking to run the channels. Sullivan does not have the physical presence to attack the box aggressively, so he often arrives on the second line to support the play instead.
Sullivan progresses the ball effectively, displaying clear intent and directness when carrying it forward. Sullivan’s passing shows maturity beyond his years, driven by his excellent vision. He makes split-second decisions and consistently finds runners in behind with well-weighted one-touch passes, often using the outside of his foot. His technical foundation is solid, but he can lack composure under pressure, occasionally producing sloppy first touches or unnecessary ball manipulations. Sullivan’s dominant left foot is proficient; he strikes the ball cleanly and poses a threat from long range. Sullivan has a strong football IQ for his age, but can refine his decision-making in the final third. In particular, he should be more selective in his 1 vs 1 situations and avoid driving into traffic, as he currently lacks the strength to power past opponents.
Sullivan’s defensive contributions are intelligent, though rather limited due to his lack of physical strength. He demonstrates excellent anticipation and movement for picking up loose balls. He recognizes pressing moments, blocks passing lanes through proper positioning, and reacts quickly to capitalize on poor touches or passes from the backline. Sullivan’s transitioning from defense to attack is somewhat slow, with inconsistent tracking back and failing to pick up his infiltrating marker.
Overall, Sullivan is an exciting prospect, though it remains to be seen if he can fully live up to the hype. For a player of his age, he is already quite well-rounded, which likely explains his professional debut at that young age. He will need to continue developing physically and improve his ball retention and decision-making under pressure, particularly given that he is currently playing in a league where on-ball pressure is not consistently applied.
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