Cavan Sullivan breaks Adu's MLS record at 16 — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Cavan Sullivan scored in the 75th minute with a left-footed finish to seal Philadelphia Union's 2-0 win over visiting CF Montréal on Saturday, his third consecutive MLS game with a goal contribution.
- The goal pushed Sullivan to 11 goal contributions for the year — the most ever by a 16-year-old in MLS, breaking a mark set by Freddy Adu in 2005.
- Sullivan is now the youngest player in MLS history with a goal contribution in five straight matches.
- After scoring, Sullivan mimicked LeBron James' signature chalk toss — a nod to the new Philadelphia arrival.
- Across all competitions this season, Sullivan has 7 goals and 11 assists in 27 appearances, including Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup play.
- Two years ago Sullivan broke another Adu record when he debuted for Philadelphia at 14 years, 293 days old, and signed the largest homegrown contract in MLS history, with a pre-arranged transfer to Manchester City when he turns 18.
- Sullivan, who has represented the U.S. up to the under-18 level, is drawing calls to join Mauricio Pochettino's senior national team roster.
Why it matters: Sullivan has now rewritten Adu's records twice within two years, and his pre-arranged Manchester City transfer at 18 means Philadelphia is showcasing a player whose MLS production is a launchpad rather than a destination — with U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino weighing roster decisions, his trajectory now directly shapes the senior national team's forward pipeline.
Ask SkimNews
