#16 James WARD-PROWSE
Former clubs: N/A
Early years
A product of the Saints Academy, midfielder Ward-Prowse was crowned as the Club's Scholar of the Season at the end of a superb 2012/13 season on and off the field.
Ward-Prowse has been with the Club since the age of eight, featuring in every game for the Under-18s in 2010/11 before becoming a full-time scholar with the Club in the summer of 2011. After breaking into the Club's Under-21 side, he made his first full senior appearance for aged 16 in a Carling Cup clash at Crystal Palace in October 2011, a week shy of his 17th birthday. He then capped his second First Team appearance with a goal, scoring in an FA Cup third-round win at Coventry City in January 2012 before ending his debut campaign by winning the Club's Young Player of the Season award.
The step up
During the summer of 2012, James was called up to the First Team alongside three other Academy scholars to be a part of Saints' Premier League squad. After an impressive pre-season, his rapid rise continued when he started in the Club’s first game back in the top flight against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
With seven Premier League appearances under his belt, Ward-Prowse signed a new five-year professional deal with the Club shortly after his 18th birthday and continued his development by playing in a further 12 First Team matches across the course of the season while also appearing in the FA Youth Cup and the Barclays U21 Premier League.
International recognition
The midfielder has also been recognised on an international stage. Having been capped by England's Under-17s in 2010/11, he stepped into the Under-19 side in September 2012 and went on to captain his country for a friendly win over Turkey the following March. He was then named in the final squad for the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in the summer of 2013, and went on to make his Under-21 debut in September 2013.
Ward-Prowse had a very successful 2013/14 campaign, making 34 Premier League appearances, as Southampton finished eighth in the Premier League.
Kicking on
Having continued to impress, Ward-Prowse agreed a new five-and-a-half-year contract with Southampton Football Club in January 2015. He went on to score his first Premier League goal later in the year, netting a penalty in the 2-0 win over Hull at St Mary’s.
Ward-Prowse was also called up by England for the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championships in the Czech Republic, along with clubmate Matt Targett. Gareth Southgate’s side had a tough time and went out in the group stages, losing two of their three games.
Ward-Prowse continued his progression during the 2015/16 campaign, netting a brace in a 3-0 win against West Bromwich Albion in January 2016, before signing a new six-year contract at the end of the campaign.
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