New Middlesbrough signing Gary O'Neil admits he never wanted to leave Portsmouth.
"I certainly wasn't expecting anything to happen - I was getting ready for the Arsenal game. I was just sat at home on a day off and got the phone call that the offers had been accepted.
"If the club accepts an offer, you haven't really got any options. But it's not personal - the club have got ambitions. They've spent a lot of money this summer and they obviously needed to get some back.
"I'm a little bit disappointed to leave when I've been there so long and had some good times there, but this is a new challenge now and I'm looking forward to it."