Southampton Bring James Ward-Prowse Back on Two-Year Deal

Southampton have brought former captain James Ward-Prowse back to St Mary's, completing a permanent transfer from Championship rivals West Ham United. The move reunites the midfielder with the club he joined as an eight-year-old and represented more than 400 times before leaving in 2023.

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BBC Sport reported that Ward-Prowse has signed a two-year contract with Southampton. The transfer fee is understood to be just under £1 million. The 31-year-old returns three years after ending the first chapter of a long association with the south-coast club to join West Ham.

Ward-Prowse progressed through Southampton's academy and went on to make 410 senior appearances for the club. Across those games, he scored 55 goals and supplied 52 assists. His production included 17 Premier League goals from free-kicks, leaving him one short of David Beckham's competition record of 18.

His spell as a West Ham player produced 75 appearances for the London club, according to BBC Sport. He also spent time away on loan at Nottingham Forest and Burnley. The most recent of those spells came at Burnley last season, when he featured 14 times.

The midfielder also brings international experience back to Southampton. Ward-Prowse has played 11 times for England and scored two goals. His return gives Southampton a player with an extensive record at the club as well as experience gained during his three seasons away.

Ward-Prowse described the return as surreal after an intense few days and said he was delighted to wear Southampton's red and white again. He identified the club as home and said that, because he had come through its academy from childhood, returning had remained in his thoughts. He added that he was excited by the challenge ahead as he begins a second spell at St Mary's.