South African midfielder Jayden Adams has died at the age of 25, just days after playing for his national team in the 2026 World Cup, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, confirmed on Saturday.
“It is with deep shock and great sadness that I have received the news of the death of Jayden Adams, a midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South African national team,” McKenzie said in a statement.
The investigation is just beginning
The minister emphasized that the cause of Jayden Adams’ death “has not yet been confirmed.”
And he urged the media and the public to act with “discretion and compassion” and to refrain from “speculation.”
The athlete’s body was discovered on a property in the Schotsche Kloof neighborhood in downtown Cape Town (southwest), police confirmed, adding that they have launched an investigation.
McKenzie emphasized that South African soccer “has lost one of its brightest young talents.”
“Our nation,” the minister added, “joins his family, his teammates, and the millions of fans who watched him grow from his early days as a promising youth player to becoming a full-fledged international with the South African national team in mourning.”
He played in the World Cup while in pain
Jayden Adams’ death came after his grandmother, Marianna Adams, passed away at the age of 72 in a hospital in the city of Stellenbosch.
About 50 kilometers from Cape Town, on June 17.
His grandmother’s death occurred one day before Bafana Bafana—as the South African national team is popularly known—faced the Czech Republic in the World Cup in Atlanta (United States).
Despite his grief over the loss of his grandmother, Jayden Adams started that game, in which South Africa tied 1-1.
Later, on June 25, he came on as a substitute in the historic 1-0 victory over South Korea in Guadalupe, Mexico.
This secured the country’s first spot in the World Cup round of 16.
His grandmother was buried on June 27, while Jayden Adams was training with the national team in the United States.
The cause of death has not been confirmed
NuevaOnda.com
The Legacy Left Behind by Jayden Adams
“The fact that he chose to wear the national team jersey and give it his all for his country at that moment shows great maturity and professionalism.”
“Far beyond his years, and a testament to the character of this young man whom South Africa has lost,” McKenzie recalled.
Born in Cape Town on May 5, 2001, Jayden Adams came up through the Stellenbosch FC youth academy.
He became the first player from the club’s youth academy to sign a professional contract in August 2020.
Mamelodi Sundowns signed him to a three-and-a-half-year contract in January 2025.
At that club, Jayden Adams became a regular in the midfield, wearing the No. 8 jersey.
He helped the team win the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League this season.
With information from EFE
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