Ward-Prowse signs Southampton deal

James Ward-Prowse will remain at Southampton until 2020 after signing a new contract with the club.

Southampton have announced that James Ward-Prowse has signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract with the club.

The 20-year-old midfielder joined the St Mary’s Stadium outfit at the age of eight and is now set to remain at the club until 2020.

Ward-Prowse – an England Under-21 international – has made 17 appearances in all competitions for Southampton this season, despite fracturing his left foot in September, and declared his delight at signing a new deal.

“The club is in a fantastic position and, ever since I joined the club at a young age, I knew it was the right place to be,” he told the club’s official YouTube channel. “I fell in love with the place straight away.

“I’ve been on a fantastic journey, the club has too, and it’s great to extend my stay. I’m really excited for the next few years.

“You only have to look at the players we’ve produced over the last few years to see it is the right place. There’s not many clubs in the country, or the world, who give young players the chance to play in the biggest league in the world.

“I’m very fortunate that I’ve been given that chance and now it’s time to repay the faith that the club have shown in me.

“It means everything to me. The club have always done their all for me to make sure I develop not only into a good footballer but a good person and I’m very thankful for that.”

Manager Ronald Koeman added: “He’s one of the young players who is developing himself in a very good way. He will be a great player.

“It’s always good news, I’m happy that he would like to stay with us. It’s a good signal to the rest of the players. He’s one of the examples for the academy, to the confidence of the young players.”