James Ward-Prowse

Key strength: Work rate

Box-to-box midfielder

At 31 years old and valued at €8 million, James Ward-Prowse finds himself in an unexpectedly precarious position at West Ham United. The England international, who arrived from Southampton in August 2023 with a reputation as one of the Premier League's elite dead-ball specialists, has managed just 3 appearances and 270 minutes this season as the Hammers languish in 18th place. A player once defined by his metronomic passing (87 rated) and lethal set-piece delivery (82 shooting), Ward-Prowse now watches from the sidelines as West Ham's midfield churns through alternatives like Tomáš Souček and Guido Rodríguez. His zero goals and zero assists tell only part of the story—a season of frustration for a footballer who built his career on consistency and availability. With West Ham desperate to climb from the relegation zone, manager Julen Lopetegui faces a dilemma: trust the experience of a player with 400+ Premier League appearances, or continue searching for solutions among newer acquisitions. For Ward-Prowse, the coming months will determine whether his West Ham chapter becomes a revival story or another tale of a proven talent left on the periphery.