Young American player Cavan Sullivan is in talks to sign with Manchester City, according to sources. Athleticism.
While the main points have all been agreed, the deal for the 14-year-old striker is still being finalized. The plan would be for Sullivan to be loaned to City Football Group club Lommel SK in Belgium when he turned 16.
Sullivan won’t be able to play for City until he turns 18.
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Considered one of the best young players in the world, Sullivan is part of the Philadelphia Union’s academy but has not yet signed a professional contract with the club. Sullivan has scored 16 goals so far for the Union youth teams.
According to two sources, Philadelphia worked to keep Sullivan, including a plan to extend the “best local deal ever.” While Union were reportedly open to a deal to keep him until he turned 18, Sullivan continued negotiations with City.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber, aware of the situation, addressed this to The Athletic on Wednesday.
“How do we guarantee that this 14-year-old kid who plays in Philadelphia who is said to be one of the best kids in the world,” Garber said. “How can we guarantee that this kid wants to play in MLS, that we can afford to sign him and that he wants to play for one of our clubs?”
In addition to his club success, Sullivan led the United States to victory at the CONCACAF U-15 Championships and won the Ballon d’Or as the tournament’s best player.
Sullivan also played in the GA Cup last year and was included in the tournament’s best XI. The GA Cup is a premier annual youth tournament in the United States. At 13, Sullivan played for the Union U-15 team, which beat Arsenal and Real Madrid en route to the final.
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Philadelphia head coach Jim Curtin spoke highly of Sullivan last year.
“Those who may not have learned it yet, a young Cavan Sullivan has the talent and the ability to become, I’ll just say, a household name and he’s doing some really big things,” Curtin said.
Cavan’s older brother Quinn turns 20 this month and plays for the Union first team.