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.
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.
