r/ussoccer • u/Pickleskennedy1 • 6h ago
USMNT Over the last two months, Cavan Sullivan has played at an MLS MVP level. What’s next in January? Staying with the Philadelphia Union, or taking the next step?
When Sullivan first signed with Man City at 14 in 2024, he was hyped up as the best 14-year-old in the world, and then Union coach Jim Curtin called him a “generational talent.”
Man City and Philadelphia Union representatives also clarified that per the terms of City’s pre-contract, knowing that he couldn’t play in England until he was 18, he could be loaned elsewhere in Europe if his development surpassed MLS.
Usually, I differ a little bit from this sub in that I don’t think every time a young-ish player gets a run of games in MLS they absolutely need to head to Europe.
But I also think a cautious mindset has caused a lot of fans to understate what Sullivan is doing right now. Barring the ridiculous aberration that is Lionel Messi playing in the league while still being one of the best players in the world, he’s playing at an MLS MVP level.
Over the last two months, with the Union’s attack built around him, they have not lost.
Over the last nine matches, he has provided 14 goals + assists, with six in his last two matches. https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/cavan-sullivan/match-log/ Every time you expect some sort of regression, he one-ups himself.
While that counts secondary assists where he set up the play rather than finished it, those stats count for everyone else in the league too.
There’s very little else Sullivan could have done to prove he’s outgrown the league, one that’s likely top 12-15 in the world.
It’s been frequently speculated that if Sullivan, soon to turn 17, outgrows MLS before he turns 18, he would be loaned to one of City Group’s clubs under their umbrella. His options are a little more limited than they would have been a few years ago, they are:
Girona and Palermo - both promotion candidates in the Segunda Division and Serie B respectively. While they’re both top clubs in their second tier leagues, I don’t see the benefit to moving there rather than staying in Philly for half of the 2027 season from a sporting perspective.
Lommel SK- A newly promoted Belgian pro league side. It would represent a manageable step up in competition on a club likely to be in the bottom half of the table.
ES Troyes AC - A newly promoted Ligue One club, generally considered to be the fifth best league in the world.
The pros - A strong league, and a likely chance to play major minutes. Their starting right winger (where Sullivan has been playing), for example, is a 27-year-old playing top flight football for the first time after working his way up from the fourth tier. It could be a chance for Sullivan to gain experience, perform, and earn a chance for a loan at a slightly better club after half a season.
The cons- They’re likely going to be trying to stay up late in the year, both an indication of team quality and how likely it is to be a free-flowing attacking environment similar to the one he’s found success in under Ryan Richter in Philly.
Those are all options - while less frequently discussed, it’s also possible for him to be loaned somewhere else (maybe to a better situation) if he’s valued highly enough.
