James Ward Prowse On Verge Of A Return To Southampton
Wednesday, 26th Aug 2026 22:07

After a 3 year hiatus at West Ham United with a couple of diversions to Nottingham & Burnley, James Ward Prowse is said to be on the cusp of a Prodigal Son type return to St Mary's.

Saints might announce the signing of Keven Schlotterbeck either on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, but it is likely to be quickly followed by the news that James Ward Prowse is again a Saint.

There will be some that will not be happy about that, but i think he could be just what we need, as a squad we lack leadership and if Taylor Harwood- Bellis leaves then I will be blunt and say that Jack Stephens is not a leader of men and JWP could add that to the squad.

At 31 he is no spring chicken, but his fitness levels will have the boost that since leaving Saints he has played just 99 games in all competitions for West Ham, Nottingham Forest & Burnley, over half of them in his first season at The London Stadium.

That means that he has not taken as much punishment to his body as most still playing at his age.

He will bring versatility to the squad as he is able to play either in midfield or at right back, hence the rumour that Mads Roerslev may be allowed to leave.

More to the point he has unfinished business here and perhaps feels that he owes us something after his last full season.

It should be noted that he did play in the first game of 2023/24 season at Sheffield Wednesday and helped us to a 2-1 win that day, call him what you want, but unlike many modern day players, he didn't say his head wasn't in the right place etc, that a lot do these days to avoid playing and getting injured when they are nearing a move.

So I cannot see why anyone would have a problem with Ward Prowse's return to the club, I am told that it is a free transfer, West Ham are willing to terminate his contract in order to get his not insubstantial salary off the books and that he is taking a big drop in wages to get the deal done.

I am told that this deal is quite near completion, but as with all transfers sometimes they don't get over the line for one reason or another.

All Photos Via Reuters

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Colburn added 22:15 - Aug 26

He is neither quick enough or strong enough for this league. Yet another utterly pointless return of a player when there are better out there in mid table Championship teams. We’ve just got a heap for Charles so we should be replacing him with someone around 15 million, young, strong and quick. Not the running in sand ex free kick king who has lost his only weapon. It’s a joke.. but then again the board and owners are a joke.

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Bowlercow added 22:59 - Aug 26 Had he stayed he would have been ideal for the Russell Martin slow backwards and sideways style of play Other than as RB cover I think it's a pretty pointless signing
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allsaint54 added 23:19 - Aug 26 No, no, no. Even more slow, sideways, backwards play from a player well past his sell by date. We strength & pace in midfield which JWP has none of.
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BigbadBarry8myboat added 23:39 - Aug 26 Not the signing I'd hoped for but if it gets rid of the even more useless Stephens then so he it.
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bryanK added 23:41 - Aug 26 I would like to remember him before he went to West Ham. All the previous contributors are regrettably right. Not many returning players work out well. You would probably have to go back to Mick Channon for a successful return. If Saints do decide to go through with this I hope the regrets are minimal
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ItchenNorth added 23:56 - Aug 26 He would add depth to our squad, experience and leadership. He'd be behind Downes and Jander, but I wouldn't be against Saints getting him in on loan.
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YosemiteSaint added 01:36 - Aug 27 I've always liked JWP. I always liked Oriel Romeu, too, and his return didn't amount to anything. I guess then the bar for JWP is low.
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SaintPaulVW added 03:45 - Aug 27 Never go back.
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mattthelegend added 07:28 - Aug 27 Was he really a capable leader?
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UgandaSaint added 07:31 - Aug 27 Can't wait to see JWP sprinting 60 meters back towards his own goal, receive a 5 meter pass from Captain Jack, pass back to Captain Jack, and sprint 60 meters back up field. Pure magic.
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davidargyll added 09:22 - Aug 27 Could this not be a potential link up with Adam Lallana on the training front?
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andoverpierre added 10:04 - Aug 27 we need experience and if fit will be a good signing especially at this level , our deliveries from corners have been shocking as well and it appears as though Mannings free kick prowess has gone .
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andoverpierre added 10:04 - Aug 27 we need experience and if fit will be a good signing especially at this level , our deliveries from corners have been shocking as well and it appears as though Mannings free kick prowess has gone .
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saintbazza added 10:07 - Aug 27

Good luck to him if it happens, I don't know what has happened to him in the last 3 years but he was always good here. Players that care don't lose their enery and motivation at 31, what an ideal player to bring on at any stage of the game.
He was offered virtually double his wages and Prem football when he left and, as he was in England squads needed to play in the Prem, anyone would have taken that!

kristianJ added 10:24 - Aug 27

I think he’d be a very good addition to the squad. He’s very experienced; an excellent professional and versatile. A lot of the more critical comments are (harshly) judging him on performances in the EPL. At Championship level he’d be a major asset - he was the best player on the pitch in his last game against Sheff Weds. As well as CM and and RB he could also cover for Azaz and possibly Fellows. He’d also have a point to prove. So I say let’s get him and the big German CB and also a replacement for THB if he goes.

Fairweather_Fan added 10:46 - Aug 27

Oh god no! Much like his playing style this is a massive backward step. No pace, no skills, not robust and any attack that goes through him will peter out as he knocks it sideways to allow the opposition to get back and into some sort of defensive shape. He'll block Bragg's pathway into the team and offer nothing more than a decent free kick. As for leadership je possesses none! Absolutely none! When we were relegated my abiding memory of him is of us conceding a goal and seeing him simply turn to towards the center circle and start ambling back. No yelling at whoever made the mistake, no calling out of whoever hadn't tracked back or left someone unmarked, no geeing up of the team and urging them to fight on and try to get something out of the game. Just turns his back on our goal and trudged upfield to kick off. Christ I've never hoped someone fails a medical more. But thhe human crab was always very fit.

HythePeer added 11:21 - Aug 27 😱
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Block47M added 15:50 - Aug 27

In the past he was decent, the 2017 Carabao Cup Final comes to mind. He could run and did a decent job against Zaha at RB when we had injuries. However before he left us JWP admitted that because of his degrading hips he no longer practiced taking free kicks; I am not aware of him scoring one in the last three years. The word from Hammers supporters that I know is that his legs have gone. By all means bring him back if he wishes to take his coaching badges but Bragg is now a better player and needs to be given more opportunities.

DPeps added 17:39 - Aug 27 Christ, some of the comments on here. You'd think we were re-signing Ali Dia! Best of luck JWP. Good to have you back 😊
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StRipper added 18:15 - Aug 27 What next then? News that Jander isn't unfit at all. Just sorting out details of his next move?
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bstokesaint added 18:57 - Aug 27 No brainier for me on a free. He’s only 31 and has good experience, leadership and is one of the best technical players I’ve seen at Southampton. I didn’t see the point in Lallalna, Walcott or Romeu returning but I feel differently on this one. He’s a proper professional and with a point to prove. Good luck to him.
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