James Ward-Prowse signs new five-year contract at Southampton

Southampton announced that captain James Ward-Prowse has extended his stay with the Saints after signing a new five-year contract.

Ward-Prowse has made 323 appearances for Southampton, scoring 33 goals, after developing through the Saints academy programme since the age of eight.

Now aged 26, the England international has attracted transfer interest from Premier League clubs, Aston Villa being the main club linked recently, but appears delighted at his decision to stay on the South Coast.

“I’m over the moon,” said Ward-Prowse in an interview with the club. “I think I’m probably the happiest man in the world right now.”

Saying all the right stuff you want to hear after Danny Ings’ departure for Villa earlier in the summer transfer window, Ward-Prowse says he wants to show a similar commitment to Saints to what the club has shown him since he was a child.

“To commit my future again to this football club is something I’m incredibly proud of and a new chapter begins now for me.

“It’s probably the first time in my career that I’ve had that link away and that talk. But I think I was very keen to sit down and talk to the club and it’s worked both ways.

“They’ve sat down and told me their admiration for me and the way they want me to lead the team - and this club has done so much for me, I can’t put into the words the opportunities and chances that they’ve given me and I’m incredibly grateful for the club for doing that.

“I’m not finished yet here, I still have a lot left to give to this football club and I want to be there leading this team and ensuring I can give everything back and repay that faith the club have shown in me since I was eight years old.”

A model professional, Ward-Prowse has played every minute of Southampton’s previous two Premier League campaigns.