While Kyle Walker-Peters said his hellos to the West Ham United faithful this week, one man who needed no introduction was his former Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse.
The second new face to arrive at the London Stadium this summer spent five years alongside his fellow England international at St Mary’s, after all. Now, they are reunited.
West Ham United completed the signing of Kyle Walker-Peters on a three-year contract in midweek.
Hammers News exclusively reported as far back as April, via football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that West Ham had agreed terms with Walker-Peters on a deal worth £75,000-a-week.
Three months on, and after links with Tottenham, Chelsea, Fulham and more, a man just two shy of 150 Premier League appearances returns to the top flight following Southampton’s disastrous 2024/25 campaign.
Kyle Walker-Peters’ West Ham United move excites James Ward-Prowse
Ward-Prowse is confident West Ham will return a stronger team after a full pre-season under Graham Potter.
The midfielder insists that Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug can silence their critics, too, and a pair of underperforming forwards should benefit from a two-footed, highly-versatile full-back who brings plenty of creativity in the final third.
“It’s a really positive signing, for sure,” Ward-Prowse beams. “First and foremost, he’s a top guy, a top professional, and he’s someone who’s experienced and understands the game very well.”
While El Hadji Malick Diouf is a full-back cut from the same cloth as Aaron Cresswell – the £19 million ex-Slavia Prague starlet shone on debut against Grasshopper Zurich during Sunday’s 3-1 friendly win – Walker-Peters likes to make sashaying runs into the final third via quick combinations and tidy footwork.
“When you’re playing, he’s somebody you can give the ball to and can trust,” adds Ward-Prowse, who worked with the Spurs academy graduate from 2020 to 2025.
“You know he’ll look after the ball and make good decisions, and he is someone who is always very dangerous in possession.
“When we were both at Southampton, I’d often play as the right-sided central midfielder so I’d find myself linking up with him, and he was always someone I enjoyed playing with.
“He’s got a great football brain on him, and he’s someone who it’s easy to build up a strong relationship with, that translates both on and off the pitch.
“I’ve always had a really good relationship with Kyle and enjoyed catching up with him when we’ve come across each other. I’m lucky to be sharing a dressing room with him again. It’s been nice to see him and show him around so far.”
Walker-Peters’ versatility could be ‘massive’ for Graham Potter
West Ham still hope to reinforce their midfield department, while another experienced free-agent could arrive to boost Potter’s frontline. West Ham could bring in Callum Wilson from Newcastle, despite understandable concerns over his fitness record.
Walker-Peters, in contrast, has missed only two Premier League matches since the beginning of 2023.
“I’m sure he’ll get his feet under the table very quickly and show what he’s about,” a confident Ward-Prowse predicts. “He’s already made a good impression on day one, fitted in seamlessly, and shown his quality across the board out in training.
“I definitely think his versatility is going to be massive. It’s a really good trait to have, and massive from a manager’s point of view. He’s always performed well, no matter where he’s played, and I think he’s going to have a really big role to play in the new season.
“It’s really exciting.”
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