Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan is the youngest player in MLS history at just 14 years old.

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player in Major League Soccer history Wednesday night — and likely the youngest to play in one of the world’s biggest professional sports leagues.

Sullivan was 14 years and 293 days old when he came on as a substitute in the 85th minute of Philadelphia’s home game against the New England Revolution, making him about two weeks younger than Freddy Adu was when he made his MLS debut in 2004 for D.C. United.

Sullivan made its debut moments after his brother Quinn, 20, scored a goal to give Philadelphia a 5-1 lead.

Cavan Sullivan, who replaced forward Tai Baribo, touched the ball a few times in the final minutes of the Union’s crushing victory. He even registered his first shot on goal, firing it towards the New England net from outside the penalty area in the final minute of added time, but it was comfortably saved by Aljaz Ivacic.

“Congratulations to Cavan Sullivan on his record-breaking debut today,” Adu wrote on social media“It’s a tough record to beat and the kid did it. Well done and good luck, man.”

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Sullivan is the youngest player to play in the NBA, NHL, NFL, NWSL, WNBA or Major League Baseball since at least 1970. Andrew Bynum, who debuted with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005 at age 18 years and 6 days, holds that record.

According to FBRef.com, the youngest player to make his debut in the world’s top five football leagues since at least 1988 was Ethan Nwaneri, who arrived at Arsenal in 2022 at 15 years and 181 days.

The younger Sullivan was born in Philadelphia to two soccer-playing parents and joined the Union’s youth academy four years ago. He made his professional debut in March for Philadelphia Union II in the MLS Development League.

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