Young American Players Making Waves in European Football

Cavan Sullivan

Atlanta United's Jonathan Spector discusses the potential of young US soccer players, including Nimfasha Berchimas and Cavan Sullivan, and their chances in European football.

“Yeah, I think every player wants to test themselves at the highest level, right? City Football Group is a massive entity...”

Jonathan Spector, former Manchester United and West Ham defender, now heads international recruitment for Atlanta United. He's optimistic about the prospects of young US talent making a significant impact in top European leagues. Spector believes Manchester could become a hub for US football in the next five years, given the recent successes of American players in the city.

Spector's Confidence in US Whizkids

Spector's confidence stems from the talent and potential he sees in young American players. He cites examples like Cavan Sullivan, who will join Manchester City's youth team when he turns 18, and Nimfasha Berchimas, who's been trialing with Manchester United. Spector emphasizes the importance of diverse pathways for player development, highlighting Clint Dempsey's unique journey as an example.

Developing Player Pathways

According to Spector, the US needs to continue improving its development and pro-player pathways. He stresses that there's no one-size-fits-all approach for players, and having multiple pathways can help ensure that talented players aren't missed. Spector's experience working with Atlanta United and his insight into European football inform his perspective on what US football needs to focus on.

The former USA international is familiar with Philadelphia Union's young talent Cavan Sullivan, who is set to join Manchester City when he turns 18. Sullivan, just 15, has already begun training with City's youth teams. When asked about the transfer, Spector expressed his hopes for Sullivan's future, saying, “Yeah, I think every player wants to test themselves at the highest level, right? City Football Group is a massive entity. They've done a good job with a lot of players, there's also some that have fallen by the wayside, and I just hope that he's not one of those.”

Cavan Sullivan shining so bright, we needed to tint the windows ☀️

Last weekend, the 15-year-old tallied his 6th goal and 5th assist of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season during @PhilaUnionII ’s impressive victory.#MLSNEXT pic.twitter.com/Roer0z29BG

— MLS NEXT (@MLSNEXT) September 23, 2025

Spector's comments highlight the opportunities and challenges that come with joining a prominent club like Manchester City. City Football Group has a reputation for nurturing young talent, with many players achieving great success. However, some players have struggled to make an impact. Sullivan's talent and work ethic will be crucial in determining his success at City. The 15-year-old has already made a name for himself in the soccer world, playing eight matches for Philadelphia Union's first team in the MLS and impressing with his skills. Manchester City secured Sullivan's signature in a deal worth around $1 million plus add-ons, beating out competition from top clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

“I think he's a talented player. He hasn't proven anything just yet, and I think for City, it's a low-risk, high-reward scenario. From my point of view, in terms of wanting the best for the American soccer player and US soccer as a whole, I just worry that he maybe doesn't get the opportunities that he has that he could have otherwise. I hope for the best, I guess, is the best way of putting it.”

Asked if he had advice for Sullivan, Spector continued: “I think it's really hard as a young player, but I think ensuring that you're taking ownership of your career.

“I think as a young player, you can go there and think, okay, I'm part of City Football Group, these guys are the experts, they know exactly what's best for me - and oftentimes, they will - but as a player, you need to take on that onus and that responsibility to ensure that you're getting what you need as well.

“He has a long way to go still in terms of development, and again, they've done a really good job with some of their players in developing them. But I think as a player, you really have to take ownership of your career as early as you can.”

US Teen Sensation Nimfasha Berchimas Trials with Manchester United

Nimfasha Berchimas, a 16-year-old forward from Charlotte FC, has been trialing with Manchester United. This talented young player has already made a name for himself in the MLS, scoring six goals in 23 appearances for Charlotte FC's reserve team and notching up three MLS appearances. Berchimas has also represented the United States in various youth teams, including the Under-20s and Under-17s, where he became the youngest American player to score at the Under-17 World Cup since Freddy Adu.

Berchimas' impressive skills and potential have caught the attention of several European clubs, including Bayern Munich, who previously offered him a trial. Manchester United's interest in the youngster is evident, but they'll face competition from other top clubs to secure his signature. If successful in his trial, Berchimas could join Manchester United's youth team before potentially breaking into the first team under coach Ruben Amorim.

16-year-old Nimfasha Berchimas has been called into the U-20 United States National Team, playing up THREE AGE GROUPS 😨

He is set to participate in the U-20 Concacaf Championships beginning on July 20th in Mexico 👀 pic.twitter.com/BYtSNTcTxD

— Footy Access (@footy_access) July 11, 2024

He said: “I think they're the individuals that a lot of people are talking about, just because of the clubs that have shown interest in them. I think there are a lot of talented American players and we, as a country, need to continue to improve our development and pro-player pathways.

“We've come a long, long way, but we haven't been doing it as long as the likes of England, Spain and France, right? And so, we still have room to improve, but we've got a fantastic pool of players here in this country and we need to ensure that we continue to improve our pathways for players.”

When asked about Berchimas potentially joining Manchester United, Spector said, “I don't think there's one pathway for players, I think there's a lot of different ways to do it. I would use an example of Clint Dempsey. Clint and I played together on the national team, played against one another in the Premier League, and his pathway was very different.” Spector's comments highlight the importance of individualized development paths for young players, emphasizing that success can be achieved through various routes.

“He went to Furman University, played there, had time in MLS and then went to Europe. So, I don't think there's one pathway and I think having multiple pathways for players and ensuring that we're not missing out on those players or missing out on giving those players opportunities to get to the top is what's important. So, I wouldn't say we have to do it one way and one way only.”

Pochettino Criticism Sparks Productive Debate

Despite facing criticism from within the US soccer community, Atlanta United's Jonathan Spector views the debate surrounding national team coach Mauricio Pochettino's performance as a positive development. Spector believes that constructive criticism can help the team improve and grow, rather than simply being negative. This perspective highlights the importance of open discussion and analysis in the sport.

He explained, “Yeah, I think that's the other interesting thing, right, is you say there's some detractors, which I don't think that's a bad thing. I think it shows that people now care about soccer in this country, right? Before, I think it was more of a positive media spin on things.

“There weren't many people criticising or paying close enough attention to criticise, so I view it as a positive. Maybe that's also the American in me, trying to be positive, see the bright side!

“But I actually think it's a good thing for the country, in that there are some detractors, there are people paying close enough attention to make those arguments.,”