James Ward-Prowse has ended speculation about his future by signing a new five-year deal with Southampton.
Tottenham and Aston Villa have been linked with the Saints captain, who made 323 appearances for the Premier League club after graduating from the academy.
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The England international will not budge after pledging his future alongside Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Ward-Prowse said on the club’s official website: “I’m over the moon. I think I’m probably the happiest man in the world right now. To make that decision, I think it was huge and that this is a big step forward. “Committing my future to this football club again is something I am incredibly proud of and a new chapter is starting now for me.
“It’s probably the first time in my career that I’ve had this connection and this conversation, but I think I was really keen to sit down and talk at the club and it worked both ways; sat down and told me their admiration for me and the way they want me to lead the team – and this club has done so much for me, I can’t describe in words the opportunities and the odds they m ‘gave and I’m extremely grateful to the club for doing that.
“I haven’t finished here yet, I still have a lot to give to this football club and I want to be there to lead this team and make sure I can give everything back and give back the trust that the club has in me. testified since I was eight years old. “
Ward-Prowse is just the 28th player to make 300 or more appearances for Southampton and has scored 33 goals, including 14 in the previous two seasons.
The 26-year-old’s decision to stay with the Saints will be a huge relief for Hasenhuttl after Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard joined Villa and Leicester City respectively.
