One of Philadelphia Union’s pillars is its steadfast commitment to developing young talent, and that philosophy has proved successful on a league-wide scale as Jack McGlynn, Quinn Sullivan, and Cavan Sullivan have been named to Major League Soccer's 22 Under 22 presented by BODYARMOR.
2024 marks the seventh straight season that a Philadelphia Union player has earned the recognition, and this year, all three honorees are Homegrows that have developed within the club’s renowned pathway to the pros. The trio has made their mark as some of leagues most promising young talent, but the best is yet to come as each of the three are signed with the club through atleast next season.
No. 3
Jack McGlynn appeared on the list for a third consecutive season, this time landing higher than ever at No. 3.
His improved ranking is well-deserved as the 21-year-old’s play time and contributions have taken a considerable jump as well. In his fourth Major League Soccer regular season, McGlynn has totaled 2223 minutes through 24 starts and 29 games played, tallying six assists, four goals, and 20 on-target shots.
One of his most impressive moments this season was his game-tying 79th minute blast from distance on the road against D.C. United on May 4th.
McGlynn’s prolific passing and soccer mind has continued to solidify his long-standing reputation as a young star in the league, but MLS is not the only stage he’s impressed on. This summer, McGlynn was called up to represent the United States on one of sports’ biggest stages, joining Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He appeared in every match the team played in, helping the group advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2000.
"It definitely feels good to be recognized. I think I've had a pretty good year, and it's good to see I've moved up in the list. I've had more confidence knowing that I have a starting role here. I'm able to dictate the game more, I have more goals, more assists, and lot more chances created. I've been a lot more effective,” McGlynn said.
"To be on the list with two of my teammates is huge. It shows how well the club is doing at developing players. and I know the two others work really hard too. I think we deserve to be on it.”
Year | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Accurate Pass |
2024 | 2223 | 4 | 6 | 86.7% |
2023 | 1615 | 2 | 2 | 85.8% |
2022 | 1008 | 1 | 3 | 86.4% |
No. 8
At 20 years old, midfielder Quinn Sullivan broke into the top 10 of the rankings, earning the No. 8 spot in his 22 Under 22 debut. Ahead of the 2024 season, Sullivan expressed his desire to consistently contribute as a starter and expand his role in the midfield, and so far, he’s done just that, more than tripling his minutes on the pitch while producing five times as many goals as he did in 2023.
A workhorse on the field, Sullivan started 24 of the 33 matches he's played in the regular season, bolstering the Union’s attacking efforts with four goals and 11 assists.
One of his top performances this season was in the team's dominant win against D.C. United in September, when he assisted two of the team's four goals in front of a packed Subaru Park crowd. That pair of passes etched the older Sullivan into the club's history books as he became the first Homegrown to reach double digit assists in a single season.
"It's my first time making the list, so it's super exciting. I’m definitely happy with it,” Sullivan said.
"For me, I’ve taken a big jump on the stat sheet and in minutes played. I think it’s my determination and confidence to go 1v1 and make plays happen that’s really been a separator."
No. 18
The newest to the professional scene of the bunch is freshly 15-year-old Cavan Sullivan, who bursted onto the MLS stage when he agreed to a marquee deal with Philadelphia Union in June. His signing made him the youngest player to sign a pro contract among all North American professional sports leagues, breaking records before even stepping foot on the pitch as a first-teamer.
Since he putting pen to paper, he’s seen just 10 minutes on the Major League Soccer, but those flashes have been very promising. He nearly opened his account in his first outing with the team on July 17th against New England Revolution, collecting a pass from his older brother for his first pro shot on goal.
While his first team appearances have been limited, the lion’s share of the youngest Sullivan’s success this season has been with Union II. He’s played 1134 minutes with the club’s MLS NEXT Pro reserve side, contributing to a historic season that’s earned the team a #2 seed in the league’s playoffs and their first-ever home postseason match.
Individually, Cavan has compiled 4 goals and 4 assists, recently leading the team's comeback effort agaisnt Atlanta United 2 at home with a 77th minute goal one day after celebrating his 15th birthday. While 2024 marks the start of what’s anticpated to be a successful career for the budding star, his abilities at such a young age paired with the promise of what’s to come have landed him a spot at No. 18.
