Alex Paulsen is confident that Bournemouth is the right club for him after announcing his record $4 million move to the club in the Premier League.
Paulsen has signed a four-year deal with the club and said that the length of the contract was a key reason why he chose to go to the 'Cherries'.
"I felt the intention with Bournemouth was more appealing for me … the four-year deal shows they care for me and want me to develop as much as I can," Paulsen told 1News.
The four-year deal includes an action plan which aims to develop the young keeper under Bournemouth goalkeeping coach Neil Moss.
Paulsen said this action plan is kept between himself and the club and is still being discussed.
He said he has spoken to Moss as well as Bournemouth's technical director Simon Francis, but has yet to have any discussions with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.
This was around six weeks ago, when the Phoenix were in the middle of their A-League finals campaign.
Paulsen said the interest from the English club was unexpected but he was grateful that Bournemouth wanted to sign him.
"I'm ready to put myself out there and be in an environment that may come across as uncomfortable," said Paulsen.
Reportedly, Premier League giants Liverpool and Chelsea had shown interest in the young keeper but had yet to put anything forward to the 21-year-old.
Bournemouth is owned by American businessman Bill Foley, who recently became the owner of the new A-League expansion club Auckland FC.
There has been speculation that the Kiwi goalkeeper was signed by Bournemouth to then return to the A-League for the new franchise. However, the A-League has implemented rules and regulations which prevents this from happening.
A-League clubs are not allowed to buy and sell players from each other, unless a player's contract ends and they become a free agent.
In 2016, Anthony Caceres was sold from the Central Coast Mariners to Manchester City, but the Premier League club loaned him back to their sister club Melbourne City, before he even set foot in England.
The A-League's Player Contract Regulations were updated as a result, with the introduction of a rule which blocked loans between sister clubs back to the A-League for two transfer windows.
The Wellington Phoenix's director of football Shaun Gill said the transfer generates a substantial amount of revenue for the club but it is also an important step for Paulsen's career.
"It's not just about what we get out of it, it's also about what fits with the player," Gill said.
"Obviously the financial aspect for us was exceptional, but it was just as important that it made sense for AP and his trajectory as a goalkeeper."
Paulsen is yet to make his international debut but has been named in the All Whites OFC Nations Cup squad travelling to Fiji and Vanuatu in preparation for the Olympics.
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