Southampton have re-signed former captain James Ward-Prowse from Championship rivals West Ham United.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old former England midfielder has penned a two-year contract at St Mary’s in a deal understood to be worth just under \u00a31m.<\/p>\n
Ward-Prowse left Saints in 2023 to join the Hammers, where he went on to make 75 appearances. <\/p>\n
During that time he also had loan spells at Nottingham Forest and most recently Burnley, where he played 14 times last season. <\/p>\n
He started his career at Southampton aged eight and came through the academy before making 410 first-team appearances. <\/p>\n
“It feels a bit surreal,” Ward-Prowse said.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“It’s the place I call home, obviously having come through the academy since I was eight. <\/p>\n
“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. <\/p>\n
“I’m here today very excited and looking forward to the challenge ahead.”<\/p>\n