The change continues for James Ward-Prowse.
The 29-year-old has a season under his belt as a West Ham United player but is in the middle of his first pre-season away from Southampton.
The midfielder moved to the London Stadium last August for £30million ($38.6m at today’s rates), having played in the Championship opener for Russell Martin’s team and completed his preparations for the 2023-24 campaign.
He was bought, along with Edson Alvarez, as part of David Moyes’ revamping of the midfield following Declan Rice’s record-breaking move to Arsenal but his performances were mixed.
Ward-Prowse registered 11 assists across 51 appearances for West Ham — that creativity, especially from set pieces, can be seen in the graphics below — but in his goal output, there was another change. Not one of his seven goals came directly from a free kick.
He has converted 17 direct free kicks in the Premier League and is one away from equalling David Beckham’s record of 18 but the wait for West Ham goes on. His last came for Southampton in February 2023.
| Player | Free Kick Goals |
|---|---|
|
David Beckham |
18 |
|
James Ward-Prowse |
17 |
|
Thierry Henry |
12 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo |
12 |
|
Gianfranco Zola |
12 |
|
Laurent Robert |
11 |
|
Sebastian Larsson |
10 |
“I keep telling myself that (I am saving it for a special moment),” he says. “It will come one day but you can’t force it, just have to wait for the right moment. Danny Ings scored one before me (against Ferencvaros) but his doesn’t count because it was a pre-season game! It was a great strike and I remember saying to Aaron Cresswell, I had a feeling Danny would do it. He’s a fantastic player and has that in his locker. I’ve played with him for a few years and I’ve seen him joke around and score free kicks in training. To see him pull one off in a game was great.”
He managed to achieve something even Lionel Messi has not in the 2-1 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers when he scored an ‘Olimpico’ (direct from a corner), having had to cope with more change in the second half of the season.
Ward-Prowse bends one in from the corner 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Sn4UBzHfSp
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 6, 2024
Ward-Prowse had lost his place under Moyes as winter turned to spring, not something the England international had been used to at Southampton, where he was captain and an influential leader.
He appreciates the opportunities he received under Moyes, but is enjoying life under head coach Julen Lopetegui — there’s that theme of change again. The midfielder, who was linked to Wolverhampton Wanderers when Lopetegui was at Molineux, was involved in pre-season friendlies against Ferencvaros and non-League side Dagenham & Redbridge before heading off to the United States with the rest of the squad.
“My first year was really positive but also with a lot of changes from joining a new club,” says Ward-Prowse. “It’s the first time it happened in my career and it wasn’t just about concentrating on the football side.
“It was my first time moving and everything that comes with it, so I’ve learnt a lot. I’ve settled in really well and the way things started was very positive. I knew straight away it was the right fit. I immediately felt at home but being the perfectionist I am, there are always things I want to improve on.
“This summer was the perfect time to go away and reflect. I was pleased with my contribution to the team but knew I could still improve. I want to do more and that’s what I’ll aim for this season. I want to bring leadership on the field. As a new player, you want make to sure you bed in and do the right things. I always try to lead in the best way I can.
“I’ve really enjoyed working under the new manager. He’s shown a modern and exciting way of playing, which suits my game. It feels like I’m going to fit right in with him. The gaffer has managed some top teams and has fantastic experience. As a group, we’ll learn a lot from him. There’s a real meaning and a purpose to his sessions. It drills into the games and I’m really enjoying the work ethic and the feeling around the club.”
Ward-Prowse says the summer signings Luis Guilherme, Wes Foderingham and Max Kilman have settled in well. West Ham remain in the market for a forward and are looking to finalise the £30m signing of Jhon Duran from Aston Villa. Although it is expected to be a transitional season, with the players needing time to adapt to Lopetegui’s methods, Ward-Prowse believes the club can compete in the upper reaches of the league.
“In recent years, we’ve managed to qualify for Europe and have a European run,” says Ward-Prowse, who has been impressed in training by fellow midfielder Andy Irving, who was on loan at Austria Klagenfurt last season. “That should certainly be on the cards. We want to improve every year and with our manager’s experience, and how he’s handled the group, there’s no reason we can’t aim for that again.”
Of the many targets Ward-Prowse hopes to achieve, an England recall remains an objective.
The 29-year-midfielder watched England’s European Championship performances with family as they lost to Spain in the final. Ward-Prowse has not played for the national team since winning the last of his 11 senior caps in June 2022 against Italy.
“On one hand, you’re always a proud Englishman looking at it in a positive light,” he says. “Equally as a player, you’re in a different position because you want to be there yourself and you might carry frustration with that. I’ve been part of that group so I know what it’s like, and it was disappointing to see how it ended.
“I’ve always tried to be level-headed and let my football do the talking. I don’t need family or friends to tell the manager (I am capable of earning an England recall). I know myself and I’m an honest professional. I know when I feel I should be there and when I shouldn’t. It’s always up and down with that situation.”
(Top photo: Harriet Lander/Getty Images)
