Philadelphia Union
Cavan Sullivan named MLS Player of the Month
The Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan was named MLS Player of the Month for September. The Philadelphia native and Philadelphia Union Academy graduate is the youngest player in league history to receive the award at 17 years and 2 days old.
After a first half of the season in which Sullivan was adapting to his new role in the team, he has erupted in the second half of the season under Ryan Richter. Sullivan scored four goals and assisted 5 for a total of 9 goal contributions, leading the league and clearing 2 nd place by 3. Cavan has now contributed a goal or an assist (by MLS rules) in eight consecutive matches, the longest streak by a teenager in the history of MLS. Sullivan’s strong form led the Union to a perfect record in September, continuing a 12-match unbeaten streak and a perfect 6-match winning streak.
Despite missing the Union’s final game of the month for international duty, Cavan made quite the impact in September. He scored an insurance goal against CF Montréal, chipped in 3 assists against FC Cincinnati, scored twice and assisted against San Diego, and helped stage a miraculous comeback in Kansas City by scoring and assisting the Union’s first two goals. The run of form earned him a call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team, with whom he became the second-youngest player to start a match for the USA.
On top of being the youngest player to ever receive Player of the Month honors, Sullivan is now the fourth Union player to receive the honor after Tai Baribo, Jack McInerney, and Sébastien Le Toux. With the award, Sullivan has become the first player to progress through the entire of the MLS Player Pathway and win the award, progressing from MLS Next to MLS Next Pro to the first team and receiving the MLS Player of the Month title.
Sullivan is on track to break even more records this season. With 7 goals and 12 assists so far in 2026, his 19 total goal contributions sit only one behind the record for most by a teenager in a single MLS season (Diego Fagúndez, 20 in 2013). His current tally is level with Alphonso Davies’ 2018 season with Vancouver. Davies went on to Bayern Munich soon after.
The Union return to action next at home against Real Salt Lake on October 10.
