James Michael Edward Ward-Prowse (born 1 November 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Southampton and is the captain of the England national under-21 team. Originally a member of Southampton's youth system, Ward-Prowse made his first-team debut for the club in October 2011, and signed his first professional contract in May 2012. He has gone on to become a regular for the club, making over 100 appearances. He primarily plays as a central midfielder or a right-sided winger.