Eberechi Eze has explained how Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie influenced his decision to sign for Premier League side Crystal Palace.
The Anglo-Nigerian completed his move to Selhurst Park on Friday on a five-year contract.
Eze explained how watching the Ivory Coast and the DR Congo internationals inspired him to join the Eagles when the opportunity came his way.
“I remember watching [Yannick] Bolasie and Zaha in the Championship and just thinking: ‘That’s where you want to be, that’s the goal,’” Eze told the club website.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to come and show what I’m about, and to follow in their steps.
“As a football club, I feel like there are great players here and it’s a brilliant opportunity for me to come and be with these players, to link up with them and really push on… It’s a brilliant opportunity for me to help push this club forwards as much as I can.
“I hope to see you [the fans] as soon as we can. I hope to entertain you and I hope you guys enjoy me as much as I’ll enjoy you.”
The midfielder believes the long-term deal is an indication Palace have trust in him and hopes to help the club achieve their targets.
“[The deal] definitely shows their [Palace’s] belief in me – and I want to be here, I want to play, I want to do as well as I can for this club and it’s a brilliant opportunity,” he continued.
“It was the plan that was set out for me and what they’ve said about me and it’s the most in-line with what I feel about myself. For me, that’s the most important thing – more than ‘what the club is’ or whatever. I think the plan they have for me and where they see me, that’s what it is.
“It’s the position they want me to play, their goals, where they want to be, where they want to push, what they want to become, how they see me fitting in that system.
“The style of football they want to play suits me. It’s perfect for me. It’s a great opportunity and a great place to come.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
