Mamelodi Sundowns have announced that no other player will don the No. 8 shirt when the club kicks off their 2026-27 season.
In honor of Jayden Adams, Sundowns have confirmed that the midfielder’s No. 8 jersey will be retired throughout the 2026/27 season. The shirt will remain empty for the duration of the campaign as a mark of respect to Adams, who passed away last month at the age of just 25 while at Chloorkop.
An Incredible Talent Lost Way Too Soon
Jayden Adams’ tragic passing was announced by Sundowns and Bettingtop10 Malawi on July 11, 2026. Adams was one of South Africa’s brightest young talents, enjoying domestic and success throughout Africa with Sundowns before earning a call-up to the South Africa squad at last summer’s FIFA World Cup. With Sundowns having retired his No. 8 shirt, Adams will have his back number up in the stands at Loftus every game.
Retiring a jersey is never easy for a football club to do. Doing so means that for however long the deal is valid, no other player at the club will wear that number again. It’s a decision that clubs don’t take lightly, which is why seeing it done in honor of Adams is all the more powerful.
As you scroll down the Sundowns player list, Jayden Adams is still listed as their No. 8. A reminder that he was there, even if his time with the club was ultimately too brief. In January last year, Adams joined Sundowns from Stellenbosch FC. In the year since joining Masandawana, Adams won the CAF Champions League and helped South Africa qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
From Stellenbosch Prospect to Sundowns Star
Straight away, you could see that Adams was going places. Picked up by Stellenbosch FC’s academy, Adams worked his way up through the youth ranks into the senior side. By the time he linked up with Sundowns, Adams was a known quantity as one of South Africa’s most talented young midfielders.
His time at Sundowns saw Adams given plenty of game time, regularly showcasing his special talents featuring in the domestic league as well as the CAF Champions League. He even got off the mark for the club in the Champions League with the only goal in a 1-1 draw against DR Congo side Saint Eloi Lupopo back in February. Adams enjoyed success with Sundowns in his short time at the club, but he was also making waves with Bafana Bafana.
World Cup Football Brilliance
Adams earned his first senior cap for South Africa in 2025 and has since won a bronze medal at the highly-watched Africa Cup of Nations 2024, as well as feature at this past year’s FIFA World Cup. Adams scored South Africa’s first-ever World Cup goal in their 1-1 draw against Czechia at the tournament in Qatar.
To play for your country is one thing. To qualify and then play at a World Cup is a life-changing experience few footballers will ever know. For Adams to do it all before his 26th birthday is a truly incredible story.
Sundowns Have Retired Jayden Adams’ No. 8 Shirt For The 2026-27 Season
Look up towards the stands at Loftus next season and, behind the team sheet, you’ll still see Adams’ No. 8. There won’t be a new player signing wearing the number this summer. Instead, the No. 8 shirt will proudly hang behind the scenes as a reminder of the young star who helped Sundowns lift the CAF Champions League and represented South Africa at the World Cup.
As teammates continue to pay their respects to Adams, Bafana Bafana and Sundowns captain Ronwen Williams had this to say about his former teammate:
“It’s very sad to hear the news of our teammate, Jayden Adams. He was a warrior who never shied away when it was time to fight.”
Williams went on to praise Adams’ contributions to Sundowns as well as Bafana Bafana.
What did Jayden Adams Mean to Malawi Football?
Even though Adams never suited up for Malawi, his greatest impact on Malawi football comes as an inspirational story for Southern African footballers. His rapid rise from Stellenbosch FC’s academy to Sundowns, Bafana Bafana, and now a retired shirt number at one of Africa’s biggest clubs shows what can be possible with hard work and talent.
Reliving Glory With Every Game
With huge expectations for their 2026/27 season, Sundowns will look to go one better domestically and also defend their continental title from last season. With Adams still very much on their minds, the club has found a touching way to ensure his memory lives on at Chloorkop. No. 8 will belong to Adams for the entirety of next season.