Nottingham Forest have signed James Ward-Prowse from West Ham United on loan for the rest of the season.
Our writers — experts in transfers, tactics, data and football finance — have come together to rate this summer’s senior Premier League moves in five categories, with each aspect given a score out of 100, to reach a total score out of 500. Hence, The Athletic 500. The ratings are explained in more detail here (not all deals will be rated, as there may be a lack of data to support an analysis).
Below is our rating for Ward-Prowse’s switch to Forest.
Get the latest transfer news on The Athletic…
Tactical fit — 75/100
A look at how the player fits into his new club tactically, using Sentient Sports’ bespoke tactical-fit model, explained by our tactical expert.
A box-to-box or attacking midfielder, Ward-Prowse is best known for his excellent set-piece delivery, which has been a source of goals and assists throughout his career. His 5.9 crosses per game last season (in the 96th percentile — in other words, the top four per cent — among his positional peers in the top five European domestic leagues), will provide Forest with another attacking weapon, particularly in dead-ball situations and from wide areas.
Additionally, Ward-Prowse’s vision and accuracy in long-range passing help with switches of play. He is able to play final balls to attackers from these situations, as shown by his 0.5 switches per game (77th percentile) in what was his first season with West Ham. This is further supported by his 3.5 shot-creating actions per game, placing him in the 85th percentile.
In this move during the home match against Luton Town near the end of last season, Ward-Prowse receives the ball from striker Michail Antonio. Instead of choosing the safe pass to fellow midfielder Tomas Soucek, in plenty of space in the centre circle, he plays a diagonal out to right-back Vladimir Coufal, who is in a one-on-one situation further up the field.
While Ward-Prowse excels in delivering such passes and set pieces, his contribution to the build-up phase can be limited.
He can drop deep to play long balls, but this is where his involvement in the build-up typically ends. But this may not be a limitation for Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest. They play direct football, rather than through the thirds. Ward-Prowse could be useful in this aspect, as he can play diagonally to wingers or centrally to big centre-forwards such as Forest duo Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi.
As shown on his touch map below, Ward-Prowse predominantly operates in the middle of the pitch, and to the left of centre. His presence in the latter zone can also support overlapping runs from the left-back.
Out of possession, Ward-Prowse has a low ball recovery rate of 4.4 per game, placing him in the 12th percentile.
He might struggle to contribute in Forest’s defensive transitions, especially when asked to cover large spaces. This was something he handled better during his time at Southampton, under Ralph Hasenhuttl in a two-man midfield but, alongside players such as Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare at Forest, his limitations when it comes to covering ground can be hidden.
Ward-Prowse is also reliable in terms of availability, with no significant injuries since the 2020-21 season, meaning Forest would have a dependable presence in midfield throughout the remainder of the season.
Gillian Kasirye
Season rating: 77/100
Rating the player over the course of last season, using statistics from The Athletic’s data team.
Ward-Prowse had a solid debut season for West Ham under David Moyes, who was replaced this summer with Julen Lopetegui. In the league, he signed after their opening game and played in the other 37 (34 starts), scoring seven goals and providing seven assists, tying with Coufal for most in the squad. In the Europa League, he featured in 10 matches (starting nine) as West Ham got to the quarter-finals, and had four more assists.
Memorable performances include his debut in August, where he laid on two goals in a 3-1 home win against Chelsea. He also scored his first goal for the club — his 50th in the Premier League — in a 3-1 away win against Brighton & Hove Albion the following weekend.
Gillian Kasirye
Gaming rating: 76/100
Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across both current and potential ability.
Ward-Prowse joins Forest as a starting-quality player with the talent to elevate their midfield, according to Football Manager.
He has a current ability rating of 150, which ranks him as the club’s best midfielder. For context, Morgan Gibbs-White, Forest’s midfield talisman in recent seasons, scores 134, while Sangare (145), Anderson (130) and Nicolas Dominguez (139) also trail the 11-time England international.
Sports Interactive’s extensive scouting network estimates that, although he turns 30 in November, he has room to improve. Ward-Prowse has a potential ability rating of 155 on FM24, suggesting Forest fans could see marginal growth in his game during his time at the City Ground.
Elias Burke
Financial value rating: 61/100
A four-category summary of the player’s transfer in financial terms — and whether it makes sense for his new club
Market value — 24/25
Securing an England international with such experience and pedigree at the highest level on loan is excellent business for Forest, given he signed for West Ham for £30million a year ago.
Squad cost — 22/25
Ward-Prowse was a high earner at the London Stadium, and Forest will pick up a portion of those wages. There will also be a loan fee, which will not be inconsequential, but their ability to secure Ward-Prowse without paying a proper transfer fee is good business.
Contract sensibility — 15/25
Adding an England international with 12 years of Premier League experience could prove to be a masterstroke as they search for a mid-table finish. However, as there is no obligation to buy, Forest have no say in his future, creating a scenario where he could move to another club next summer after impressing at the City Ground.
Resale value — 0/25
Without either an option or obligation to buy at the end of the loan period, this has to be a zero.
Elias Burke
Risk or reward? 72/100
Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up and make this deal a bad one in retrospect? Or does the player come with a clean bill of health? Our expert takes a look.
Forest’s risk here is marginal, but the long-term reward is limited without an option or obligation to buy Ward-Prowse next summer, should he prove a hit at the City Ground.
Despite struggling later on to replicate his electric form from those early stages of last season, scoring two goals and assisting three times from a more advanced midfield position in his first four league appearances for West Ham, Ward-Prowse brings pedigree and quality to Nuno’s side.
He can play several positions in the middle of the pitch and has excellent set-piece delivery, which should help address Forest’s struggles with scoring goals from corners and other dead-ball situations. As it’s a loan, it is also a very cost-efficient deal.
However, if Ward-Prowse succeeds at City Ground, Forest will have limited sway over his future.
Nine months spent with one of England’s most historic clubs may prove influential if a deal were to be struck next summer, but the situation leaves Forest without control. Still, this is a problem to address at the end of the season, and Ward-Prowse is being recruited to help the team win games now.
Elias Burke
Overall rating: 361/500
(Photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
