Manchester City will sign Cavan Sullivan when he turns 18 next September but a row has already broken out

Incoming Manchester City arrival Cavan Sullivan has found himself at the centre of a row between former players. Two ex USA national team players, Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan, have been embroiled in a heated war of words over the young star.

Johnson has called out Donovan after the former Everton attacker urged caution over putting too much pressure on rising American stars. Sullivan is catching the eye in Major League Soccer (MLS) with the 17-year-old netting seven goals and as many assists in 26 appearances this season, recently making his bow for Mauricio Pochettino's US Men's National Team and becoming the youngest ever goalscorer for the country.

City signed the highly-rated Philadelphia Union midfielder as a 14-year-old in 2024, with a deal being completed when he turns 18. Sullivan, who turned 17 at the end of September, is going from strength to strength as his impending move to the Premier League edges closer.

However, he finds himself in the middle of a row between two American icons after Donovan name-dropped Johnson as a former highly-rated prospect who failed to live up to expectations.

Johnson hit back and said: "I can't speak for Freddy Adu or Santino Quaranta or Gio Reyna, but I will speak for myself, Landon Timothy Donovan.

"You talk so much s**** about every other young upcoming player in the past but yourself.

"He came back home where it was easy for him, and now he talks shit about kids doing more than he did in a league he failed in.

"I did everything you did with fewer opportunities and [am] still considered one of the best strikers this country has seen.

"I salute these young boys for sticking it out in Europe and not taking the easy way out for a paycheck … and less pressure."

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Johnson stoked the flames after Donovan moved to dispel the hype surrounding the future City attacker. Donovan said: "I am measured and calm because I, unlike a lot of new soccer fans, have seen this story happen over and over.

"I saw it with Freddy Adu. I saw it with a guy you won’t even remember, Santino Quaranta. I saw it with Eddie Johnson. I saw it with Gio [Reyna] and seen how it's progressed.

"There will be the next superstar at some point. It might be Cavan. I’m hoping it's Cavan, or maybe it's Julian Hall."