At the end of 2027, Cavan Sullivan will join Manchester City. City secured the signing of the prodigiously talented young attacking midfielder some time ago. Sullivan has long been regarded as one of the top young prospects in world football. His performances for the Philadelphia Union in the MLS this season have further emphasized this fact . The 16-year-old has earned his first call-up to the United States national team and his performances for the Philadelphia Union have seen him establish himself as one of the top attacking players in the American top flight.

Football is filled with elite young players who have the potential to become world-beaters. In the case of Cavan Sullivan, both on and off the pitch, he looks to have what it takes to fulfil his massive potential as Manchester City hope he will.

Cavan Sullivan has enjoyed a meteoric rise for the Philadelphia Union this season. It has always seemed to be a matter of when Sullivan would establish himself as a starter for the Philadelphia Union. That has happened this season. Sullivan’s place in his team’s starting lineup wasn’t handed to him. It was an opportunity he seized with both hands.

Primarily, Cavan Sullivan operates on the right-hand side and drifts centrally and to the left. Sullivan’s heat map which can be seen via the attached link from Fotmob , gives an indication of where Sullivan primarily plays. Across all competitions for the Philadelphia Union, Sullivan has scored 10 goals and added 9 assists in 30 appearances. Cutting inside onto his left foot from the right is a major weapon in Sullivan’s game. There are shades of Phil Foden to Sullivan’s game in this regard. Sullivan operates more a wide playmaker rather than a winger. This role suits his game in particular his close control, dribbling and penchant to produce the spectacular.

In terms of his creativity, Cavan Sullivan is a major weapon for the Philadelphia Union. He creates 2.11 chances per 90 minutes, which shows what he offers in the final third. Cavan Sullivan’s pass % sits at 71.6% per 90 minutes, which illustrates that he is a risk taker in terms of the passes he attempts. As he matures, that number should rise. Plug him into a Manchester City side, for example, and that number should rise exponentially.

Cavan Sullivan is an elite dribbler, as the statistics illustrate. According to Fotmob, he completes 2.60 dribbles per 90 minutes at a success rate of 56%. Also, Cavan Sullivan has the right amount of fight to his play. He wins 6.07 duels per 90 minutes with a success rate of 47.3% per 90. Cavan Sullivan is elite with the ball at his feet and he isn’t afraid to get stuck in to win back possession.

Coupling those traits together gives a good indication of what type of player Sullivan is. He is exceptionally gifted on the ball and he has the fight in him to work for his team. Both are traits that will set him up well for life at Manchester City.

The statistics paint a picture of the type of player that Cavan Sullivan is. Watching him play for the Philadelphia Union, he looks to be a cut above many. For a 16-year-old, that is a testament to his obvious talent. However, it takes more than talent to make it at the top level of football that a club like Manchester City sits at. Cavan Sullivan is a determined and hard-working player, as a recent article from Jonathan Tannenwald for the Inquirer illustrates.