Chelsea signing Eden Hazard says he was always going to choose the Premier League this summer.

Hazard was recommended to Real Madrid by his boyhood idol Zinedine Zidane and also attracted interest from Italian giants Inter Milan.

But he was always going to move to England after seven years in France.

He explained to The Sun: "I have a particular affinity to the Premier League. It's the best league in the world and it's a really exciting challenge to be a part of that.

"The atmosphere inside the stadiums is better than anywhere else in the world and it's also a very competitive league with a lot of teams capable of winning it.

"Last season showed it is always an exciting competition and when you look at what Manchester City have been doing in the last couple of years, you know they will continue to progress.

"Moving to England is stepping up to a different level and definitely involves more pressure. But I am ready for that."