You Won’t Believe Who Pep Guardiola Is Bringing to Man City Training Long Before His 2027 Arrival
This summer promises to be a pivotal chapter in the story of Manchester City Football Club. Having dominated English football for nearly a decade under Pep Guardiola, the club now finds itself at a crossroads. After securing an unprecedented four consecutive Premier League titles, City’s reign was finally ended at the weekend, as Liverpool clinched the 2024/25 crown. That shift in power has undoubtedly stung Guardiola and his squad, who are not accustomed to relinquishing their grip on domestic glory.
For Guardiola, who is already regarded as one of the most influential managers in Premier League history, this summer will be about course correction. The 54-year-old tactician is expected to make strategic adjustments and reinforce his squad with new signings as he plots City’s resurgence for the 2025/26 campaign. Sources close to Liverpool suggest that Jurgen Klopp and his staff fully expect their Manchester rivals to return stronger and more determined than ever.
One of the more intriguing developments for City fans this summer is the involvement of American wonderkid Cavan Sullivan, who is set to begin training with the club months ahead of his official move. Manchester City secured the signing of the then-15-year-old talent in the summer of 2024, shortly before he made history by becoming the youngest player to appear in Major League Soccer.
Regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in world football, Sullivan has already drawn high praise from those in the game. His coach at Philadelphia Union, Jim Curtin, told MLS.com that “the sky’s the limit” for the teenager and labelled him “a generational talent, one who can really change the game by himself.” Although Sullivan has only made three appearances in the MLS so far this season, his potential has clearly caught the attention of Guardiola and City’s scouting team.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently reported that Sullivan is expected to begin training with Manchester City this summer. While the move is still being coordinated with Philadelphia Union, the plan is for the youngster to spend time with the Premier League champions in order to acclimate to his future surroundings. He will officially join City in 2027 when he turns 18, in line with FIFA transfer regulations for minors.
The early integration of Sullivan signals City’s intent to build for the long term. The club is also pushing to sign Florian Wirtz, one of Europe’s most coveted midfielders, and many believe he could eventually form a formidable partnership with Sullivan in the years ahead. While such speculation remains years from becoming reality, the planning for City’s next great team is clearly underway.
However, Sullivan will miss out on one notable piece of history. Despite his early arrival and soaring reputation, he won’t be able to challenge for the title of Manchester City’s youngest-ever player. That record is still held by Glyn Pardoe, who made his debut at just 15 years, 10 months and 10 days old in a match against Birmingham City on April 11, 1962.
Among current stars, Phil Foden holds the distinction of being the youngest debutant, having first featured at 17 years old. Foden has since become a vital player for both City and England. Though the 2024/25 campaign has been a challenging one for him, Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs believes the talented midfielder will bounce back stronger ahead of next season.
As for Sullivan, his journey is only just beginning. Whether he lives up to the lofty expectations remains to be seen, but everything so far points to Manchester City securing one of the game’s next great midfielders. With Guardiola still at the helm and the club preparing for a busy and ambitious summer, City are already plotting their return to the top – and Sullivan could be central to that future.
