Jayden Adams

Jayden Adams
Adams with Stellenbosch in 2023
Personal information
Full name Jayden Oswin Adams
Date of birth (2001-05-05)5 May 2001
Place of birth Cape Town, South Africa
Date of death 11 July 2026(2026-07-11) (aged 25)
Place of death Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, South Africa
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
–2020 Stellenbosch
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2025 Stellenbosch 109 (7)
2025–2026 Mamelodi Sundowns 40 (4)
Total 149 (11)
International career
2022–2026 South Africa 13 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  South Africa
Africa Cup of Nations
Third place2023 Ivory Coast
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jayden Oswin Adams (5 May 2001 – 11 July 2026) was a South African professional soccer player who played as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Stellenbosch

In 2020, Adams made his senior debut for the then recently promoted Stellenbosch F.C..

In 2023, he helped Stellenbosch win the Carling Knockout Cup.

Mamelodi Sundowns

In January 2025, Adams joined the Mamelodi Sundowns based in Pretoria. In the same season he won the South African Premiership with the club.

In May 2026, he won the CAF Champions League with the Sundowns after helping them defeat Moroccan-side AS FAR.

International career

In 2022, Adams made his senior debut for South Africa in a match against Mozambique.

On 28 December 2023, Adams was named by Hugo Broos as part of his final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Adams was called up by South Africa to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he would play in all 3 of South Africa's group stage matches, helping them qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history, however, he would not play in the match against Canada.

During his international career he earned a total 13 caps and scored 2 goals, with both being scored during 2026 World Cup qualifying matches.

Death

On 11 July 2026, Adams was found dead in home located in Schotsche Kloof, a suburb in central Cape Town, at the age of 25, leaving behind his partner, Aqueelah Adendorf, and a five-year old daughter. This came only 16 days after he had played in the group stage of the World Cup against South Korea.

Prior to the quarterfinal match between Norway and England, a moment of silence was held for Adams. Another tribute was held for Adams in the quarterfinal match between Argentina and Switzerland.

As of 12 July 2026, an official cause of death has yet to be released.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Nedbank Cup Knockout Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stellenbosch FC 2019–20 South African Premiership 2000———20
2020–21 South African Premiership 21010———220
2021–22 South African Premiership 25210———262
2022–23 South African Premiership 2813000—10321
2023–24 South African Premiership 2533040—30353
2024–25 South African Premiership 8100109141132
Total 1097805091811399
Mamelodi Sundowns 2024–25 South African Premiership 17331006060324
2025–26 South African Premiership 23110009100332
Total 404410015160656
Career total 149111215024214120415
  1. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in MTN 8
  2. ↑ Appearances in CAF Confederation Cup
  3. 1 2 Apperances in CAF Champions League
  4. ↑ Three appearances in MTN 8, three appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

International career statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Africa 2022 3 0
2024 2 0
2025 2 2
2026 6 0
Total 13 2

Honours

Stellenbosch FC

Mamelodi Sundowns

South Africa

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cardoso, Javier; Roche, Calum (2026-07-11). "Minute's silence as Jayden Adams dies aged 25 | What was cause of death of South Africa's 2026 World Cup player?". AS USA. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  2. 1 2 Christenson, Marcus (2026-07-11). "South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies aged 25". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  3. 1 2 3 "South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies at 25". NBC News. 2026-07-11. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  4. 1 2 "Jayden Adams defied childhood odds to make Bafana & Cloetesville proud at the World Cup". www.espn.com. 2026-07-11. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  5. 1 2 3 "FIFA World Cup 2026 | How did South African midfielder Jayden Adams die?". @theweek. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  6. ↑ Lambley, Garrin (2023-12-28). "AFCON 2023: Bafana Bafana squad CLUB breakdown". The South African. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  7. ↑ "Broos finalizes South Africa squad". www.fifa.com. 2026-05-27. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  8. ↑ "South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies at 25 | CNN". CNN. 2026-07-11. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  9. ↑ "Jayden Adams: South Africa World Cup player dies aged 25". BBC Sport. 2026-07-11. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  10. ↑ Deb, Prakriti (2026-07-11). "Who is Jayden Adams' daughter? What we know about South Africa star's family after his death". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  11. ↑ Conybeare, Will (2026-07-11). "Soccer player dies 16 days after World Cup appearance". KTLA. Retrieved 2026-07-12.[permanent dead link]
  12. ↑ Machlin, Tzvi (2026-07-11). "Players Paid Tribute To Jayden Adams Before England-Norway World Cup Game". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  13. ↑ "FIFA pays tribute to World Cup star who died days after playing at tournament". The Mirror US. 2026-07-12. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  14. 1 2 "Jayden Adams - Stats and titles won - 25/26". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 2026-07-12.

Jayden Adams Archived 2026-07-13 at the Wayback Machine at Mamelodi Sundowns