Neal Maupay has revealed that Brentford's knowledge and appreciation of him and how he can fit in the team convinced him to join the club.
Brighton had made a late move to try and convince the 20-year-old to join their first top flight campaign since the 1982/83 season.
But Brentford's recruitment team proved to Maupay that they had a full understanding of his game that made him feel really wanted.
He told France Football: “I have had some contacts with English and French clubs. But I got the staff and the managers from Brentford on the phone. They knew me perfectly. I felt desirable.
“When I saw that they mastered all my course, my game and my season in Brest, I thought they really wanted me.
“I'm excited to sign up there, I'm excited to discover this new Championship and this new country that I do not know at all. I'm really looking forward.”
The attacker felt that he would not be guaranteed first team football at Saint-Etienne and, rather than go to a more glamorous club and sit on the bench, he wanted to continue being a regular.
He added: “Simply the desire to play. I leave a full season in Brest where I played 30 matches (in all competitions, 28 in the league).
“I wanted to continue this momentum, to be on the ground to flourish. I did not want to go into a project where my playing time would not be guaranteed ... even if, of course, you can never guarantee it.
“I wanted to play. I could have stayed in France as a second or third striker. So I preferred to go to a club perhaps less upscale, smaller, but where I will be able to have fun on the pitch.
He continued: “I had a discussion with the coach (former Watford boss Oscar Garcia). He counted on me.
“Finally, he explained to me that in the hierarchy I did not figure in his first choices, but that he wanted me to stay from my young age and my profile that he appreciated. He wanted to develop me.”
The language barrier will not be a problem for Maupay who already has a good understanding of English.
He revealed: “I followed my school curriculum to the baccalauréat, and I did quite well in English. Then I took some English lessons because I liked that language.
“Every time I went on vacation, I was tired of not finding the words when I wanted to ask for something.
“So I think I'll get out of it too badly. And in addition I will have the chance to live in London. It's great."
