14-year-old midfielder claims future Man City 'collaboration' is behind MLS record deal

Teenager Cavan Sullivan claims a 'collaboration' with the City Football Group was a key factor in his signing of a record homegrown contract with Philadelphia Union in the USA.

Sullivan, who is only 14, has signed his first professional deal which is said to be the largest homegrown contract in Major League Soccer history, and has generated significant headlines in the US. Reports suggest there is an in-built agreement for Sullivan to join Manchester City when he turns 18, although City, Philadelphia and the MLS have not confirmed any such deal, and there was no reference of the CFG or City in Philadelphia's release over his new deal.

However, Sullivan himself spoke about the City Football Group in his decision to sign his four year deal at the Union, telling ESPN: "The collaboration between the Union and the City Group... I think that did it for me.

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"I always watch Man City. They're like every kid's dream team. For them [Philadelphia and 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.

"I guess my goal is just to become a regular player [for Philadelphia] within the next two years. And then after that I would hope to be a starter. I guess that's from the 16 to 18 age window. And then right when I'm 18 I hope to be at the level of the Man City first team."

His father is quoted as saying: "I think he's a pretty mature kid. I think he gets some of it. That's not to say we don't think there's going to be bumps along the way. We definitely know that.

"And I think that's part of the reason this collaboration between the Union and City Group is so important because he really does have a safety net here."