Southampton have brought James Ward-Prowse back to St Mary's, re-signing the former club captain from Championship rivals West Ham United on a two-year contract understood to be worth just under £1 million.
The 31-year-old midfielder departed Southampton in 2023 after a storied 410-appearance career at the club, having first joined their academy at the age of eight. His return marks one of the most sentimental homecomings in Saints' recent history.
A career defined by loyalty
Ward-Prowse accumulated 55 goals and 52 assists during his first spell on the south coast, carving out a reputation as one of the Premier League's finest set-piece specialists. Seventeen of those goals came from free-kicks — leaving him just one short of David Beckham's all-time top-flight record of 18.
After leaving for West Ham United, he made 75 appearances for the Hammers. He also spent time on loan at Nottingham Forest and, most recently, Burnley, where he featured 14 times last season.
The midfielder has also represented England on 11 occasions, scoring two international goals.
