Southampton have officially signed James Ward-Prowse to a two-year contract.

Southampton have officially confirmed the signing of James Ward-Prowse. The 31-year-old English midfielder has returned to his familiar St. Mary's Stadium after his time at West Ham United, signing a two-year contract with Southampton. A product of the club's youth academy, Ward-Prowse's return marks the beginning of a new chapter in his career.  

James Ward-Prowse's connection with Southampton dates back 20 years. He joined the Saints' youth academy at the age of eight and gradually developed into a key member of the first team. During his debut for Southampton, he made 410 appearances, including European campaigns and helping the team reach the League Cup final, while contributing 55 goals.  

In the summer transfer window of 2023, James Ward-Prowse ended his long-term partnership with Southampton and joined West Ham United. During his time at West Ham, he made 75 appearances, and also had loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Burnley. As his career continues, the English midfielder has now accumulated 422 appearances in the Premier League.  

James Ward-Prowse couldn't hide his excitement upon returning to the South Coast after many years. He said, "It still feels a bit unbelievable to me. A lot has happened in the last few days, and the pace has been very fast, but I'm really happy to be back here. Wearing the Southampton red and white jersey again means a lot to me."  

“This place has always been my home. I joined the club’s youth training program when I was eight years old and grew up here step by step. Until I left, I experienced a very special journey here. For me, ‘home’ has an extraordinary meaning. I have never forgotten this place and have always hoped to come back someday. Now that my wish has finally come true, I am very excited and looking forward to everything that follows.”  

Speaking about the support he received from the fans, the club, and the city of Southampton, James Ward-Prowse said: "You can never take the support from the fans, the club, and the city for granted. Being able to feel everyone's recognition and love for me had a very positive effect on my performance back then."  

"When you can feel the appreciation and trust people have for you, it really pushes you to a higher level. Therefore, I am very much looking forward to seeing the fans again and hope to repay them with my performance. For a player, it is very important to feel a sense of responsibility, to be needed by the team, and to truly be recognized by the club. When I learned that this opportunity to return had come up, I realized that this kind of environment could help me perform at my best."  

“When I left, the team was in a difficult situation, and that experience left me somewhat disappointed. Now that I’m back, I really hope to make up for the regrets I had back then. I will try my best to play my part and contribute to the team’s push for promotion to the Premier League.”  

"I still maintain a very strong fighting spirit and hope to prove some of the doubters wrong with my actions. I have indeed experienced a lot of disappointment in the past few years, but football is a sport full of different opinions, and the environment and evaluations are constantly changing. However, I always believe in my ability and I believe that I can help this team."  

“I hope to prove every day that I still deserve this jersey. This is a very dynamic and exciting team. The roster has changed a lot since I played for them before, so I look forward to getting to know everyone and integrating into the team as soon as possible. Coming back here doesn’t mean I can get a place right away; I have to prove myself again through training and matches.”  

Image source: Internet/Southampton official website