Ward-Prowse boosts Southampton with new five-year deal

James Ward-Prowse has handed Southampton a huge boost by signing a new five-year deal.

Captain Ward-Prowse, 26, was only 12 months into a five-year deal that he signed last summer.

But, having been targeted by Aston Villa in this window, he has reaffirmed his commitment to the club by now committing his future until 2026.

Ward-Prowse said: ‘I’m over the moon. I think I’m probably the happiest man in the world right now. To come to this decision, I think has been massive and is a big step forward.

‘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.’

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Ward-Prowse’s new deal at St Mary’s will take his association with the club beyond the 20-year mark.

The 26 year-old midfielder has made 323 first-team appearances, scoring 33 goals and at the end of last term became the first midfielder in Premier League history to play every single minute of back-to-back seasons.