Raphaël Calvet said he signed for Brentford yesterday because he wanted to join a club that was ambitious and making progress.
The French Under-20 international completed a move to TW8 yesterday from AJ Auxerre for an undisclosed fee.
He signed a three-year contract to commit to Brentford until the summer of 2016.
Raphaël said he had watched a lot of English football and would do anything to reach the level required to play for The Bees, who are looking to go one better than last season when they finished third in League One and lost in the Play-Off Final.
“I saw Brentford last year,” said the defender, speaking to Bees Player after completing his move.
“They had a very good season.
“They were one match from The Championship.
“It is interesting for me to play at a club like Brentford.
“I need to play games at my age and it is interesting for me to play at a club with ambition.
“It is a good club, a good team and one that is making progress.
“I always watched English football, the Premier League.
“It is a game I like but I have never played here.
“I will learn, try to reach the level and I hope it will be good for me.
“I will do anything to be the best I possibly can and I hope that will be enough.”
Raphaël said he wanted to come to Brentford to play First Team football and it was good to be at an ambitious club.
He said he had watched a lot of English football and was ready for the challenge.
“I have the opportunity to play,” said the French defender, who played for France at youth level and captained the squad which reached the Quarter-Finals of the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
“It is important for me.
“At Auxerre it was difficult, there were older players and the coach was not good for me.
“But that is football.
“Brentford is a good club for me, it is ambitious and I like that.
“I play at centre back but also at right back.
“I am ready to play in England and I am happy to play English football.
“I have seen it many times and I like it.
“I am here to play football and I am concentrating on that.”
After signing his contract Raphaël went back to France to link up with the Under-20 squad.
He will play for France in a tournament before returning to West London.
“This afternoon I will go with the French team,” he explained.
“We have a tournament in the south of France and play Rwanda, Congo and Canada.
“I will play three games and then I will be back.”
Bees Player subscribers can see an interview with Raphaël Calvet here.