Kasey Palmer says his loan at Bristol City last season convinced him that a permanent move to the Robins would be a good fit.
The versatile attacker joined the Robins on loan in January 2019 and proved a hit with fans, despite starting just two matches.
In the summer, the Robins were interested in signing Palmer permanently but faced competition from other Championship clubs, including Swansea City, who have held a long-term interest in the player.
Yet, speaking to youth coach Darnell Simpson, Palmer revealed that the Robins were a good fit for him.
"I enjoyed it, the six months on loan," he said.
"I didn't start as many games as I wanted to, but in terms of the manager, the fans and the team, it felt like the next step in my development to go and be permanently at a club.
"It felt like the right fit, the style of play and everything fit well.
"That's why I chose Bristol City over everything else."
Palmer went out on five different loans from Chelsea during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Whilst he enjoyed success with City and Huddersfield Town, other loans proved to be more frustrating, and he revealed that he felt it would be more beneficial to move on from Chelsea.
The 23-year-old explained: "It felt right in terms of the age I was at, where I was in my development.
"There were a few loans that didn't go to plan, I didn't come back to Chelsea questioning whether I'd be able to push for the first team.
"It was kind of like I needed something new, I didn't really see progress at Chelsea at that time.
"The age I was at, it was the time to move on, there was that feeling that it was time to take the next step."
He added: "I knew within myself that I wasn't going to break through at Chelsea this season.
"The stage I was at, it wasn't the right thing to go on another loan, it was becoming loan after loan after loan.
"I've got a missus and a little boy, so it felt right to come to Bristol City and settle down, sign a long-term contract and go from there."
