Southampton re-sign former captain Ward-Prowse

James Ward-Prowse left Southampton to join West Ham in 2023 [Southampton FC] Southampton have completed a deal to sign their former captain James Ward-Prowse from West Ham United. The 31-year-old has signed a two-year contract at St Mary's in a transfer understood to be worth just under £1m. Ward-Prowse left Saints in 2023 to join the Hammers where he went on to make 75 appearances. During that time he also went on loan spells to Nottingham Forest and most recently Burnley where he played 14 times last season. He started his career at Southampton aged eight where he progressed through the academy before making 410 first team appearances. "It feels a bit surreal," Ward-Prowse told the club after signing. "The last couple of days have been pretty intense, but I'm delighted to be back, and to be wearing the red and white again is truly special. "It's the place I call home, obviously having come through the academy since I was eight. "It was an incredible journey up until the point that I left, but home is a special place and I always had it in the back of my mind that it was somewhere that I wanted to be. "I'm here today very excited and looking forward to the challenge ahead." At Saints, Ward-Prowse scored 55 goals and registered 52 assists with 17 of his goals coming as Premier League free-kicks , one behind David Beckham's top flight record of 18. Ward-Prowse has won 11 caps for England, scoring two goals. Southampton sign German defender Schlotterbeck Latest Southampton news and analysis