Joe Bryan says his deadline-day move to Fulham in 2018 was one of the most stressful things he has experienced.
Former Bristol City star Bryan was subject to plenty of speculation in the summer of 2018 as he had just a year left to run on his contract at Ashton Gate.
When Aston Villa had a bid accepted for Bryan, he looked set to leave his boyhood club but stay in the Championship in a move that would have raised a few eyebrows.
Yet at the 11th hour, Fulham had a bid for Bryan accepted, and he swiftly made his way to Craven Cottage to spend last season in the Premier League.
Speaking to Sky Bet (see a full video on YouTube here), Bryan admitted he was very close to joining Villa.
He said: "I nearly signed for Villa, so I was going to the Champ, but for me it was time to move on and try something new, whether it was in the Championship or the Premier League, obviously you dream of playing in the Premier League, but I think development wise as a player and as a person it was time for me to leave.
"I was probably half an hour, an hour away from signing, yeah, we’ll leave it at that.
"I hadn’t signed any contracts, nothing like that, but no.
"It’s the most stressful thing I’ve ever experienced.
"My heart rate was probably 120 for a good 36 hours, which is not good.
"When you’re flying down the motorway, wondering whether you’re going to sign somewhere or not, it’s not the best."
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