Philadelphia Union homegrown Cavan Sullivan etched himself in the club record books on Saturday night with a special Achievement Unlocked presented by Independence Blue Cross.
When the opening whistle rings out at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, the midfielder will become the youngest start of a league match in Philadelphia Union history. Even more impressively, at 15 years and 280 days, Sullivan becomes the second-youngest player in MLS history to start a match following in the footsteps of Freddy Adu who was 14 years and 334 days old.
Sullivan signed a MLS record deal with the Union on May 9, 2024, which made him the youngest player in club history to be added to the first team roster, and the fifth youngest player to sign a first-team contract in MLS history. Two months later, Sullivan made at Subaru Park on July 17, 2024, when he became the youngest player to make his regular-season debut among the top North American professional sports leagues. Sullivan's historic debut came at 14 years, 293 days old when he took to the pitch in the 85th minute of the Union's match against New England Revolution. Sullivan breaks the record by 13 days held by Freddy Adu who was 14 years and 306 days old.
