Scott Parker will hate Nuno’s West Ham transfer call — Southampton will love it.

West Ham’s decision to allow James Ward-Prowse to return to Southampton for a reported fee below £1million could become a source of frustration for new head coach Scott Parker. The midfielder has quickly re-established himself at his boyhood club, while Parker has previously shown how much he values the player.

West Ham are adjusting to life in the Championship after relegation last season. Nuno Espírito Santo was dismissed after recording six league victories, four draws and three defeats. Former West Ham midfielder Parker has since taken charge, with the international break giving him time to examine the squad and identify what needs improving.

One decision from the summer transfer window may stand out. Ward-Prowse was allowed to leave for Southampton for a fee reportedly below £1million, with West Ham keen to remove his wages from the books. That represented a dramatic reduction on the approximately £30million they paid Southampton to sign him in 2023.

Ward-Prowse’s difficult spell in east London

The 32-year-old arrived at West Ham after Southampton’s relegation to the Championship. He had already made more than 400 appearances for the Saints and was an established Premier League midfielder. Under David Moyes, he made an encouraging start in London, registering seven goals and seven assists in 37 league appearances during his first campaign.

Nuno Espírito Santo

His situation changed after Moyes departed. Julen Lopetegui did not appear to favour him and allowed him to join Nottingham Forest on loan. Nuno was in charge at the City Ground, where Ward-Prowse spent six months before returning to West Ham under Graham Potter.

Nuno later took over at the London Stadium in the summer of 2025, but the midfielder again struggled to find a place in his plans. Ward-Prowse was left out of the picture and was even reportedly separated from the main training group. Across Nuno’s time in charge, he made only 12 appearances for West Ham.

The midfielder subsequently spent the second half of last season on loan at Burnley, where he reunited with Parker. Ward-Prowse played 14 matches in all competitions under Parker in less than six months at Turf Moor, more appearances than he managed under Nuno.

Parker has midfield decisions to make

West Ham’s summer business involved several significant departures and arrivals. Mateus Fernandes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Crysencio Summerville and El Hadji Malick Diouf left for lucrative fees, while Edvin Austbo, Joel Piroe, Manor Solomon and Arne Engels joined the club.

Ward-Prowse’s departure was less high-profile than some of the other exits, but it may prove important now that Parker is in charge.

The new manager has several midfield options to assess. Engels has been viewed as a promising addition, while Divine Mukasa, Tomáš Souček, Soungoutou Magassa, Mohamadou Kante and Lewis Orford are also competing for places. Parker must find the right combination and decide which players best suit his approach.

His previous experience with Ward-Prowse makes the decision to sell the midfielder particularly notable. Parker brought him to Burnley in January 2026 and gave him regular opportunities. It remains uncertain whether Ward-Prowse would have become a guaranteed starter at West Ham, but his performances under Parker suggest he could have offered useful experience and quality in the Championship.

Southampton are benefiting from his return

Ward-Prowse has settled quickly back at Southampton, the club where he developed and made his name. He has become one of the first players selected by head coach Tonda Eckert, despite competition in midfield from Flynn Downes, Casper Jander and Cameron Bragg. Jander has also had to contend with injury.

The midfielder has recorded one goal and one assist in 13 Championship appearances since returning to the south coast. Those numbers are modest, but his place in the team indicates the importance Eckert attaches to his experience and qualities.

Southampton will hope Ward-Prowse can help drive their promotion challenge. He has enjoyed a positive return to familiar surroundings and has also helped his new side get one over on West Ham during the current campaign.

For the Hammers, the timing of his departure could become a talking point. Parker is now responsible for shaping a squad capable of responding to the demands of the Championship, and an experienced midfielder who understands the club might have been useful. Instead, Ward-Prowse is contributing to Southampton’s ambitions after leaving for a relatively small fee.

The summer decision was made under Nuno, who had rarely used the player. Parker’s previous willingness to select him at Burnley creates an obvious contrast. Whether the new West Ham boss would have built his midfield around Ward-Prowse is unknown, but Southampton are already seeing the benefit of bringing their former captain back.

As Parker assesses his options during the break, the midfielder’s progress on the south coast may reinforce questions about whether West Ham were too quick to let him go.