West Ham United midfielder has opened up about the need to find stability at the London Stadium after years of consistency and loyalty at Southampton.
The 30-year-old midfielder has admitted that the past year has been one of the most challenging chapters of his career, not just on the pitch but in all aspects of life.
After 13 years at Southampton, Ward-Prowse joined West Ham in the summer of 2023 and enjoyed an explosive start to life in East London.
But his influence soon faded, and so did his place in the starting line-up.
Ward-Prowse spent the first half of last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, but that move was prematurely terminated as he struggled to find his feet in West Bridgford.
There are rumours that the Englishman could be on the move again with West Ham planning a squad rebuild this summer, but he’s determined to fight for his place in the team.
“For somebody who has had a lot of stability in his career in terms of being at a club for a long period of time, then getting a move and then moving again so quickly, it has been challenging in lots of ways, not just on the football side,” Ward-Prowse said (via The Standard).
His loan spell at Forest came with few first-team opportunities. He started just five Premier League games, and his return to the London Stadium offered no respite.
Under new manager Graham Potter, he couldn’t spark the revival fans had hoped for, but the midfielder is keen to build on that experience next season.
“By my own standards, I’ve not been where I want to be,” he said. “But it’s a good test of character that will stand me in good stead for years to come.
“I wanted to have a positive impact because, as a team, we [West Ham] weren’t in a great place. We know that, and we’re not used to it. So it hurts even more.”
With several players leaving the club, including Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings, and Kurt Zouma, a summer rebuild is underway at West Ham.
Several new faces are expected, but Ward-Prowse has welcomed the chance to fight for his place.
“Changes in the summer are normal,” he said. “There will be comings and goings. But I have to make sure I’m ready to come back and fight for my place.”