Freddy Adu is no longer the youngest MLS debutant of all time. That record has been held by Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan since Wednesday night. The 14-year-old talent was allowed to come on as a substitute against New England Revolution five minutes before the end, and thus replaced Adu as the record holder. Sullivan was thirteen days younger than the former prodigy.

In the 85th minute of the match, it happened. Sullivan, a 1.58 meter tall, bleached blonde midfielder, was called to the sideline to come on. There he replaced hat-trick hero Tai Baribo, with which Sullivan immediately appeared in the books. No longer Adu, but he was the youngest debutant in MLS history.

?????? 14 year old talent Cavan Sullivan enters the pitch for the first time in MLS.

He's 13 days younger than Freddy Adu, record broken as the youngest ever to debut in MLS.

Manchester City have already signed Cavan for the future. ????pic.twitter.com/s6Gt5zsq70

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 18, 2024

Adu had held the record for over twenty years. On April 3, 2004, the now retired footballer came on for DC United, at the age of 14 years and 306 days. A new prodigy seemed to be born, but nothing turned out to be true. Adu flopped everywhere he went, including a training camp at AZ in 2014.

Sullivan has also been called a 'wonder child'. The teenager recently signed his first professional contract with Philadelphia Union, which has a partnership with Manchester City. The intention is for Sullivan to move to the Citizens. This is only allowed at that age because of Brexit.

There is therefore a chance that Sullivan will first move to one of City's satellite clubs. These include Girona, Palmero Troyes or Lommel SK. In this way, former PSV player Sávio will also make progress in his development. The Brazilian is owned by Troyes, but made a splash last season in the shirt of Girona.

It remains to be seen how Sullivan will fare. According to European law, the midfielder can make the switch from the age of sixteen.

Incidentally, Sullivan was also on the field with his brother Quinn on Wednesday night. The twenty-year-old Quinn provided the final chord in the 5-1 victory.

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