The Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder died passed away on July 11th just a few days after representing his country South Africa at FIFA World Cup in United States, Canada and Mexico.
Adams played in all three of the group stages matches South Africa played in the World Cup, starting two and coming off the bench in the third.
Born on May 5, 2001 in Cape Town, South Africa, Adams was admitted to the football academy of Stellenbosch where he graduated to the senior team in 2020. He was admired and thought of highly by his coaches in the academy and teammates and indeed, he was the club’s first academy graduate to sign a professional contract with the club.
Adams established himself as a regular starter at Stellenbosch playing 130 matches for the club, including 109 league matches and scoring 10 goals.
By 2024, Adams was on a ladder of South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns who signed in him in 2025 January giving him and three and a half years contract.
Jayden Adams was key in the of the Mamelodi Sundowns that won the CAF Champions League in the 2025/2026 season which they won by defeating AS FAR Rabat of Morocco. He was a starter in the two-legged final matches.
For South Africa, Adams made his debut for South Africa in 2022 and had managed to play at least 9 matches for the Bafana Bafana. He was named in the team 26-man World Cup team and managed to play at least three matches at the group stages.
While at the World Cup, 2 weeks ago, Adams lost his grandmother Marianna Adams but demonstrated remarkable professionalism by featuring for Bafana Bafana in their World Cup match against Czechia.
A great player for his country and club, an African champion and a father, Adams breathed his last on July 11th 2026 as reported by Brendine Johnson who is the family spokesperson and Adams mentor. He requested respect to the family’s privacy during these trying moments.
“So, at this moment, I don’t even have words to say, but we ask that the family’s privacy be respected. Yes, I can tell you that he passed on. Nobody expected this,” Johnsons said.
The cause of death is reported as suicide.
At 25 years, Jayden Adams has gone to eternity, to family, friends and teammates, condolences.
