New Watford goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has revealed that he rejected a number of the club’s Premier League rivals in order to join the Hornets.

The Nigerian number one’s arrival was announced at the beginning of this week, although he will not feature at Vicarage Road until next season, having been sent back on loan to the club he signs from, Sparta Rotterdam.

Speaking to Transfermarkt, the German-born shot stopper said that he was approached by Southampton, Burnley and Crystal Palace, as well as clubs in France, but that the Watford ownership were the deciding factor in his choice to come to Hertfordshire.

“Watford, with club boss Gino Pozzo, simply convinced me in the discussions,” said Okoye.

“They put their trust in me and I will fight for it and give everything to be number one.

“I believe in the quality of the team, I pray and hope that they stay in the Premier League. It has to work with this coach.

“My management Prime11 has been in close contact with several clubs from the Premier League since the beginning of the year, clubs with which they have worked for a long time: Southampton, Burnley and Crystal Palace were also on my side and in extensive discussions with my management. Two French clubs also presented something to me.”

Also drawing Okoye to Watford is the chance to work with some of his Nigerian national teammates, with William Troost-Ekong, Emmanuel Dennis and Peter Etebo currently on the books at Vicarage Road.

He also wants to be close to one of his favourite cities.

“It’s 30 minutes from London and I love the city,” he continued. “I’ve been there many times and know my way around well.

“[Being with Nigerian teammates] makes my flights to the national team much more pleasant and I find myself in a familiar environment.”

Getting his future sorted out quickly was important for Okoye, who feels that had he waited, other opportunities would have arisen in the summer.

However, he simply wanted to know what lay in store for him beyond the current season, so that he could keep his focus on the rest of this campaign.

He feels he has made a move that will benefit his career in the long run.

“Too much interest can backfire and be harmful,” he said. “Despite the stress in the last few days, I made a conscious decision to sign the contract now in order to clear my head for the qualifying games with the national team and to keep the league with my current club.

“I will give everything for it. More clubs would have come by the summer, but I’m out of these poker stories. It’s not about getting as much money out of it as possible, and neither is my management. We are working together to build a career in this sport for myself and to be successful in the long term - for the next 15 years, God willing.

“I run for success, loyalty and my faith and my family, my national team and my teammates, fans and the club.”

Okoye also knows that there will be benefits for both his former clubs, Rotterdam and Fortuna Dusseldorf, who are set to receive a sell-on fee from the deal.

“I am happy that everyone will benefit from it,” he said. “Whether Sparta Rotterdam or Fortuna Düsseldorf, they will all be served by my services and the services of my management. Nobody can say anything bad about me and I can continue my journey in this sport clean, serious, professional and with full focus and discipline”.