Ashley Cole has revealed he turned down a number of clubs - including Real Madrid - to join Chelsea.
The England defender moved from Arsenal to Stamford Bridge in a deadline-day switch that also took unhappy Blues defender William Gallas to the Emirates Stadium.
Cole, who could make his debut against Charlton on Saturday, linked up with his new team-mates this week for the first time since the deal was completed.
The left-back's switch to the Premiership champions was one the longest-running transfer sagas of the summer but he eventually crossed London with Arsenal receiving Gallas and £5million in return.
Cole, 25, said: "Before I went to the World Cup I spoke to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. He asked me where I would like to go and I told him I would rather concentrate on the World Cup first.
"He said a few clubs - Chelsea and Madrid - and of course I'm glad to be here now. They have won the league for two years running and have a great captain in JT (John Terry) as well as a lot of English-based players.
"They are a very ambitious team with the players they have brought in like Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack. Hopefully coming here, I can win more medals and the Champions League."
Cole insists he has joined the champions for footballing reasons, even though his time at Arsenal ended amid acrimony.
Cole added: "Coming from a rival club, you are always going to have doubters thinking you are here for certain reasons.
"But I can definitely say I am here for the good reasons - to win things. I have always been a winner and always will be. I think coming here I can prove to them that I am here for the good reasons."
Cole is not expecting to walk straight into Jose Mourinho's side after a good start to the season from his fellow England left-back Wayne Bridge.
Bridge has had to settle for a place in the England squad as understudy to Cole and now looks set to do the same at club level. But Cole is under no illusions that he wil have to battle it out with Bridge for the left-back role.
Cole added: "I have got a hard fight on my hands with Wayne. A lot of Arsenal fans have told me how good he is playing but I am here for a battle.
"I didn't just come here and expect to play. I had it at Arsenal - I had to fight for my place there. There will definitely be a fight here."
