• Cavan Sullivan is set to join Man City in 2027

• Midfielder’s contract with Philadelphia Union includes a special clause

• The 15-year-old is set to train with Premier League giants soon.

Manchester City aims to advance their long-term acquisition of Major League Soccer teen prodigy Cavan Sullivan this summer.

Sullivan made headlines last year when he debuted in MLS for Philadelphia Union at just 14 years and 293 days old, making him the youngest player to appear professionally not only in football but in all major U.S. sports.

The midfielder surpassed the MLS record set by Freddy Adu in 2004 by 13 days.

He had previously signed the biggest ‘homegrown contract’ in MLS history with Philadelphia, and the player confirmed it includes a clause specifically designed to facilitate a move to Manchester City.

“The collaboration between the Union and the City Group was… I think that did it for me,” Sullivan told ESPN in May 2024, two months prior to his historic debut.

“I always watch Man City. They’re like every kid’s dream team. For Philadelphia and Man City to come together and agree on something… I sat with my family and my agents and we decided that it was the best plan.”

Fabrizio Romano has now reported that Sullivan, who has come off the bench three times in the early weeks of the new 2025 MLS season, is anticipated to start training with Manchester City in July. The arrangement is said to be a “work in progress” with Philadelphia.

The final result is that Sullivan will move to City in 2027, just after he turns 18 in September of that year.

Sullivan is currently 15 and hails from a “soccer family.” His dad, Brendan, played professionally from 1996 to 2001, just below the MLS level, while his older brother Quinn, who is 21, recently hit over 100 MLS appearances with Philadelphia. Additionally, two other brothers, a cousin, a grandfather, and an uncle have all been involved in the sport at the collegiate level or higher, either in the past or present.