The race among top clubs for elite prospects such as Cavan Sullivan never ends, even when the players have committed to a team.

In this case, a number of clubs, including Barcelona, are awake to the possibility of signing the Philadelphia Union starlet despite his agreement to move to Manchester City once he turns 18.

The 17-year-old USMNT star was handed his senior international debut by Mauricio Pochettino last week, but may now face some uncertainty with respect to his future at club level.

Manchester City's well-documented problems have given rise to speculation, and all of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain are closely monitoring in case a hijack is possible.

Uncertainty Surrounding Manchester City Verdict Gives Rise To Fears Over Cavan Sullivan Deal

Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty on 114 of 115 charges levelled against them by the Premier League with respect to multiple financial breaches and a failure to cooperate with investigations.

The league has kept things under wraps so far with respect to the legal proceedings and sanctions against the club, but they could be set to receive a lengthy transfer ban, among others.

With the cloud of a ban hovering above, Sullivan's deal to join City Football Group, which was agreed when he was 14 years old, now appears to be in jeopardy.

According to Foot Mercato, Europe's elite clubs are interested in the young attacker, who will be eligible to move to a European club before he turns 18 years old.

He has developed into a fine youngster in the MLS, and his Wasserman representative, Dan Segal, has told SPORT that his client's future is up in the air, despite the pre-agreement with City.

"Manchester City is one of the biggest clubs in the world. What they have built cannot be erased from history.

It is true that there is a pre-agreement for Sullivan, but you never know what can happen. We hope that they solve everything in the best possible way," he said.

From MLS Breakthrough to USMNT Debut: Why Europe's Elite Want Sullivan

Sullivan has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the MLS, starring for Philadelphia Union since he was 14 years old in 2024.

He is the youngest player to appear in a league match for a major professional sports league in the USA and Canada, and rose steadily through the ranks to become a regular for his club this year.

Operating as an attacking midfielder and winger, the teenager has recorded seven goals and five assists for Philadelphia Union in the MLS this season.

His form has peaked in the last two months, with six of his strikes coming in August and September, as he made the team of the week in each of the last three matchdays before heading out on international duty.

His domestic form earned him a call-up to Mauricio Pochettino's senior United States national team squad, where he logged 62 minutes in a 4-1 victory over Peru, debuting at 16 years and 363 days old.

He became the fourth-youngest player to ever represent the USMNT in the friendly, writing his name in their history books.

An immediate move elsewhere in Europe will be a serious possibility for the teenager if the move to Manchester City falls through.

Sullivan has a German passport, thanks to his mother, enabling him to move to continental Europe prior to English labour eligibility.

His rapid development in the MLS means that he could soon outgrow the league, ensuring that he could seek tougher tests to accelerate his development.

For clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and PSG, the pathway exists as several teenage stars have joined them in recent seasons, including the likes of Hamza Abdelkarim, Franco Mastantuono, Dro Fernandez, and others like them.