The early weeks of Max Aarons' Bournemouth experience have reinforced his view that a fresh challenge away from Norwich City was needed.
Aarons and City's sporting director Stuart Webber both publicly spoke about the need for the right-back to continue his development away from Carrow Road after five years service having made over 200 appearances with the club.
His move away from Norwich ended up becoming a saga as he walked away from advanced negotiations with Leeds United to join Bournemouth to embrace the Premier League challenge with Andoni Iraola.
Aarons has started each of the Cherries' opening four top-flight matches since making the move from Norwich, which could end up banking City £12m if add-ons are achieved during his stay on the south coast.
Bournemouth are still searching for their first victory of the campaign - but Aarons' feeling that he required a fresh start away from Norfolk has been reinforced since walking through the door at his new club last month.
“It's my first challenge away from Norwich, but one that I needed and one that I feel like I can add a lot to in terms of the club and myself," Aarons told the Bournemouth Daily Echo.
“I'm really, really excited still and obviously only been here two or three weeks now. I feel really at home.”
Aarons has been thrust into frontline action for his new employers in their Premier League conquest despite not playing a single minute of pre-season for Norwich whilst a move was in the offing.
Iraoia has thrown the 23-year-old in at the deep end including in difficult tests against Tottenham and Liverpool - but Aarons is pleased to be testing himself against the very best in world football once again.
“You either get eased into it or you're straight in,” mused the right-back. "I think I'd have preferred it to be like this, to be straight into it. I feel really good and feel after each game as well, better and better.
“I think you can see some of the things that we're trying to do on the pitch as well and I think in general we've been really good.
“I think (against Spurs) we came up against a quality side. They were quite ruthless when they got their chances."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here