How much money James Ward-Prowse earns at West Ham as Southampton eye shock move | OneFootball

The Saints are reportedly hoping to reunite with their former midfield maestro who is facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium.

Southampton are reportedly hoping to do a January deal with West Ham United that would see the club reunite with their former midfield maestro, James Ward-Prowse.

That's according to a report from Football League World's sister site GIVEMESPORT this week.

It's understood that the 30-year-old central midfielder has been 'frozen out' of the Hammers squad by new boss Nuno Espirito Santo, and is now resigned to leaving the London Stadium in January after being informed that he has no future at the Premier League club.

Indeed, it was from Southampton that Ward-Prowse joined the Irons in the summer of 2023 after graduating from Saints' academy system and into the first-team in 2011, in a deal that was reportedly worth £30m.

How much money James Ward-Prowse has been earning at West Ham amid Southampton return talk

Things haven't gone to plan for Ward-Prowse as a West Ham United player in recent times.

Indeed, the experienced midfielder joined the club fresh off the back of the Hammers' 22/23 UEFA Conference League-winning season, and as such, it looked as though the club were heading in a really positive direction.

And for a while, they were, as Ward-Prowse played a pivotal role in helping the club record a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League in his debut 23/24 campaign.

The ex-Southampton star made 51 total appearances for the Irons that term, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists in all competitions, whilst 37 of those 51 outings came in the Premier League.

However, he would ultimately be loaned out to Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan deal for the 24/25 campaign, but was recalled by West Ham in February, and only ended up making 15 top-flight appearances with one goal and one assist to his name for the Hammers last season.

Now with the 25/26 season well underway, Ward-Prowse had started the opening five league games of the season, but in Espirito Santo's first game in charge, the 1-1 draw away at Everton on Monday night, the midfielder was left out of the matchday squad entirely.

So, with his future now seemingly being away from the London Stadium, how much has he been earning during his time in the capital?

Well, according to estimates from Capology, the 11-time England international has been picking up a cool £115k-a-week base salary ever since signing for West Ham.

James Ward-Prowse would be excellent signing for Southampton - they may have to make him top earner

For a player who will turn 31 when October turns to November, Ward-Prowse should still have plenty of good years left in the tank.

He's always been a midfielder that has relied upon his ability to run a game of football with his superb and accurate range of passing, and high levels of footballing intelligence, and has the profile of someone who could easily play to a high level late into his 30s as a result.

Ward-Prowse has racked up over 400 Premier League appearances in his career, with over 340 of those coming as a Southampton player from 2011-2023.

He played a crucial role in helping the Saints enjoy some of the best and most successful years in the club's history, particularly between 2013-2017, when the Saints finished eighth, seventh, sixth and eighth again in the Premier League.

Therefore, should he join re-sign for the club, he could instantly become arguably the best and classiest player in the Championship over the course of the second half of the season.

However, Saints' current highest-earner - according to Capology's estimates - is Joe Aribo, who is said to be earning £70k-a-week, closely followed by Adam Armstrong on £60k-a-week, and Finn Azaz on £50k-a-week respectively.

As such, with Ward-Prowse understood to be earning £115k-a-week, Southampton will surely only be able to afford to strike a deal with him if a significant pay-cut is taken.

But, given Ward-Prowse's connection to St Mary's, and at the stage of his career he finds himself in, that may not take much convincing.