At 14, Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan becomes youngest ever MLS player
Fourteen-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player in Major League Soccer history Wednesday night.
CHESTER, Pa. — Fourteen-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player in Major League Soccer history Wednesday night — and probably the youngest to play in any of the biggest professional sports leagues in the world.
Sullivan was 14 years, 293 days old when he entered Philadelphia’s home game as a substitute in the 85th minute against the New England Revolution. That makes him about two weeks younger than Freddy Adu when he made his MLS debut in 2004 for DC United.
Sullivan made his debut moments after his brother, 20-year-old Quinn, scored a goal to put Philadelphia up 5-1.
Cavan Sullivan, who replaced forward Tai Baribo, got a handful of touches in the final minutes of the Union’s blowout win. He even recorded his first shot on goal, blasting it at New England’s net from outside the penalty area in the final minute of injury time, but it was comfortably saved by Aljaz Ivacic.
“Big congrats to Cavan Sullivan for his record breaking debut today,” Adu wrote on social media. “That’s a hard record to break and the kid did it. Well done and good luck my man.”
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