South Africa international and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams has died at the age of 25, just weeks after representing his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The cause of his death has not been confirmed. South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, announced Adams’ death on Saturday in a statement, describing it as a huge loss to the country’s football community.
The statement read, “It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams.
“South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents, and our nation mourns alongside his family, his team-mates and the millions of supporters who watched him grow from a promising academy prospect into a full Bafana Bafana international.”
BBC reports that police in South Africa said an investigation had been launched after the body of a 25-year-old man was found at a house in Schotschekloof, a suburb in central Cape Town, on Saturday morning.
McKenzie appealed for restraint, urging the public and the media to avoid speculation while authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding Adams’ death.
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“The cause of Jayden’s passing has not yet been confirmed, and I wish to appeal to members of the media and the public to exercise restraint and compassion, and to refrain from speculation, while his family and Mamelodi Sundowns are given the space and privacy they need at this incredibly difficult time.
“Any official information will be communicated by the appropriate parties in due course,” the statement added.
Adams featured in all three of South Africa’s group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup, helping Bafana Bafana reach the knockout stage for the first time before they were eliminated by co-hosts Canada in the round of 32.
He also made headlines during the tournament after starting South Africa’s 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic just hours after learning of his grandmother’s death.
The South African Football Players Union described Adams’ death as an immeasurable loss.
Adams made his senior international debut in 2022 and was also part of the South African squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
He began his professional career at Stellenbosch FC before joining Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025, where he won the South African league title and the CAF Champions League.
