Transfer News: Barker Addresses Jayden Adams Transfer Speculation

Transfer News: Barker opens up on Jayden Adams rumors

Amid reports of an imminent transfer to Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch FC midfielder Jayden Adams scored in his team’s 2-0 CAF Confederation Cup victory over Mali’s Stade de Malien at Loftus Stadium on Sunday. This win secured Stellenbosch’s spot in the quarterfinals.

While Stellenbosch initially resisted Sundowns’ approaches for the 23-year-old, demanding over R30 million, they have reportedly become more open to negotiations, likely due to Adams’ desire for a move. A fee has now been agreed between the clubs, with only personal terms needing to be finalized before the transfer to Sundowns is complete.

After the game, Stellies coach Steve Barker neither confirmed nor denied that it was Adams’ last appearance for the club. “I’m not going to confirm nor deny your question [whether it was Adams’ last game for Stellies]. I can’t confirm anything and I’m also not going to deny it,” he told reporters.

Barker also addressed the possibility of bolstering the squad in the January transfer window, acknowledging the difficulty of retaining top players. “We’re a club that plans well, we’re a club that understands the business of football, we understand there are times where your best assets are not always easy to hold on to,” Barker said.

“Therefore it makes us extra committed and extra focused on ensuring we’re finding the talent there is to bring in, to continue to make the club competitive.

“If you look at the January window, the last three windows, I think we’ve done the best, we’ve been good. I don’t see why this window will be any different.”