The promising star was brought into the game with only five minutes left as Philadelphia dominated New England Revolution with a 5-1 victory, making him the youngest player ever to appear in a match. Sullivan inked the largest homegrown contract in MLS history back in May, and has already committed to join Manchester City in 2028 when he turns 18.
Sullivan is shaping up to be a significant talent, and if his performance continues to impress over the next few years, Germany might express interest since the midfielder is eligible to represent them internationally. Currently, Sullivan is part of the United States youth system, but may face a difficult decision if his career trajectory continues to rise as anticipated.
MLS is known for discovering new talents, with Miguel Almiron still holding the record for the most expensive sale after Atlanta United sold him to Newcastle United for £21 million. There are now nine players who have debuted in MLS before turning 16, but their careers haven't all followed the same path.
1: Cavan Sullivan - 14 years, 293 days
Sullivan has been an official senior member of the Philadelphia squad since May, but has continued to play for their reserves while waiting for his big moment. That moment arrived on Wednesday, as he stepped onto the field to play alongside his older brother Quinn.
The youngest player in MLS history appeared composed on the field, even managing to get a shot on target during his brief appearance. It's speculated that he could be a regular feature this season, but he only has 26 days left to become the youngest goalscorer in MLS history.
2: Freddy Adu - 14 years, 306 days
Freddy Adu was the notorious record holder until Sullivan broke his 20-year record. He was dubbed 'the next Pele' when he burst onto the scene in 2004.
Adu scored just two weeks after his debut and netted 11 goals over his first three seasons in MLS.
Sadly for Adu, he is now remembered as a disappointment, failing to live up to expectations and moving around the world in search of a successful career. Adu last played in Sweden with Osterlen FF in 2021. He is still only 35.
3: Julian Hall - 15 years, 190 days
New York Red Bulls forward Julian Hall is still considered a promising talent, having made his debut on Sept. 30, 2023.
Hall scored 28 goals in 39 matches for the Red Bulls Academy and was quickly promoted to the first team.
Hall became the second-youngest scorer in MLS history in June, netting an 88th-minute equalizer against CF Montreal in a 2-2 draw just a minute after coming on. Hall's playing time is being carefully managed, but the Red Bulls are hopeful he can become a star.
4: Alphonso Davies - 15 years, 257 days
Alphonso Davies, the star player of Bayern Munich, is one of the most successful players to have emerged from MLS. He made his debut for the Vancouver Whitecaps on July 16, 2016, and quickly became a key player in the squad.
His breakthrough season was in 2018 when he scored eight goals in 31 MLS appearances as a winger, despite being a left-back. After signing with Bayern, he continued his upward trajectory, winning five Bundesliga titles and lifting the Champions League trophy.
5: Axel Kei – 15 years, 288 days
Ivorian forward Axel Kei made history as one of the youngest players in MLS when he was subbed on for Real Salt Lake in September 2022. However, since then, he hasn't been seen much.
Kei played the second half against Mexican club Atlas FC but has yet to make his second senior appearance. Born in 2007, Kei is still only 16 and currently plays for the affiliated youth team, Real Monarchs.
Raised in Brazil before moving to San Diego in 2017, Kei was discovered by the United States youth training camp after two years.
6: Matai Akinmboni – 15 years, 328 days
Matai Akinmboni, at 15 years and 328 days old, is the youngest player to play for DC United since Adu. Since making his debut on Sept. 10, 2022, Akinmboni has been a regular part of the first-team and has made 12 MLS appearances.
He is the nephew of Samuel Kuffour, who played at centre-back for Bayern Munich from 1993-2005. The German side tried to sign Akinmboni in 2001, but a deal fell through and the 17 year old is still with DC United.
7: Obed Vargas - 15 years, 351 days
Obed Vargas has been with the Seattle Sounders since 2019 after joining the academy, and was rewarded with his MLS debut on July 22, 2021. Vargas has since become a key player for Seattle, registering 56 MLS appearances and scoring his first senior goal this year.
Vargas is now 18 but continues to impress, which led to the United States men's national team and Mexico fighting over his international eligibility. Despite representing the US at youth level, Vargas switched allegiance to Mexico in May.
Tied-8: Erik Duenas - 15 years, 362 days
Erik Duenas has been with Los Angeles FC since 2016, just two years after the club was founded, and later became one of the first three homegrown signings. The five-foot-four midfielder made his LAFC debut on Oct.14, 2020 and played once more that season.
Duenas was then sent to Las Vegas Lights before returning to play for LAFC2, the reserve side, before making 18 MLS appearances during the 2023 season. The 19 year old hasn't played for LAFC in 2024.
Tied-8: Stiven Jimenez - 15 years, 362 days
In 2019, Jimenez joined FC Cincinnati and three years later, he signed a homegrown contract with the club after shining in the academy. He made his senior debut on June 21, 2023, and had another appearance but hasn't played for Cincinnati since then.
Despite being only 17, the defensive midfielder has player options in his contract through 2027. His lack of game time is attributed more to the quality of players on the field, making it challenging for Jimenez to secure a spot.
10: Nimfasha Berchimas – 16 years, 2 days
At just 16 years and 2 days old, Nimfasha Berchimas made his MLS debut for FC Charlotte on Feb. 24, 2024.
He initially signed with the club in 2020. Born in Burundi, Berchimas moved to North Carolina as a child and joined local team NC Fusion.
Berchimas has played three times for Charlotte and represents the United States at the youth level. The 16 year old became the youngest US player since Adu to score at the U-17 World Cup.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Most Popular
Comments / 0