South African midfielder Jayden Adams, who represented his country at this year’s World Cup, has died Saturday at the age of 25.
South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said said in a statement: “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,” he added, but did not disclose a cause of death.
Police said they had opened an investigation 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.
A police spokesperson told news agency AFP that the “circumstances around this incident are under investigation.”
Adams played in all three of South Africa’s group-stage matches at the World Cup asthey reached the Round of 32 for the first time. He did not feature in the knockout defeat by Canada.
He was also part of the squad that finished third at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Background and career
Jayden Adams was born in Cape Town. He developed through the Stellenbosch FC academy, becoming the club’s very first youth graduate to sign a professional contract in August 2020.
During his time with the Cape Winelands side, he made 139 appearances and helped the team secure the Carling Knockout title in 2023.
In January 2025, Adams signed with Mamelodi Sundowns, where he went on to add to his honours by winning both a Premiership title and a CAF Champions League crown.
Family bereavement at the World Cup
Adams’ death comes less than a month after the passing of his grandmother.
On the eve of South Africa’s opening Group A match against Czechia at Atlanta Stadium, Adams suffered the loss of his grandmother. Despite the bereavement, he started the match and played through the grief to help his team secure their first point of the tournament.
“Jayden started in the match and gave his all while carrying the burden of losing his grandmother,” the South African Football Association said at the time.