Southampton sign James Ward-Prowse from West Ham United for under £1 million

Southampton have finalized the permanent transfer of James Ward-Prowse from West Ham United on a two-year contract. The deal sees the 31-year-old midfielder return to his former club for a fee reported at just under £1 million. Ward-Prowse struggled to establish himself at the London Stadium, recording no goals and only one assist across 18 Premier League appearances during the 2025/26 campaign. His stint included a loan spell at Burnley where he failed to record significant defensive contributions. West Ham United offloaded the veteran to clear his £57,500 weekly salary from the books, citing a tactical shift toward more mobile, aggressive midfielders under the current system. The club is now actively pursuing a deal for Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis with the freed-up financial resources.

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