Harry Souttar described his deadline day switch to Leicester City as a "whirlwind" after completing a reported £15 million (A$26m) move from Stoke City.
It was a record-breaking move for Souttar, who made history by becoming the most expensive Australian transfer to date.
He is also the first Subway Socceroo to play in the Premier League since Maty Ryan in 2021 when he was on the books of Arsenal.
The 24-year-old was closely monitored by the Foxes for some time and they eventually secured his services to bolster the defence.
Souttar revealed he was aware of Leicester's interest earlier in the January transfer window and was absolutely delighted to have put pen-to-paper on a five-and-a-half-year contract.
"It's been a whirlwind to be fair," Souttar admitted to LCFC TV.
"Obviously, I knew of the interest in early January, middle of January, and then for about a week or so there was kind of talks ongoing.
"But, you know, I think as the deadline got closer it would probably be on the final day.
"It was a long day yesterday, but just absolutely thrilled to get it over the line and to be here, meeting all the lads and the staff today, just can't wait to get going."
Souttar is one of the game's brightest defenders in the United Kingdom and was reportedly linked to several top-flight English clubs before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury while on international duty in November 2021.
And after missing 11 months of football, he was in a race against the clock to be fit in time ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
But any doubts about his inclusion in the squad were swiftly dashed after a string of assured performances, demonstrating composure beyond his years.
Having achieved a dream of featuring at a World Cup, Souttar had his sights set on playing at the highest level possible.
Now too that desire has become a reality.
But the towering defender knows this is just the beginning and has to work extremely hard to break into the starting 11.
"Well when I heard of that interest, at first, I just thought, 'wow, what an amazing opportunity it would be to go and try and play in the Premier League and make that step up from the Championship'," he said.
"I think if you ask any player they want to try and play at the highest level.
So it's certainly an ambition of mine. Now I'm here I've got to work hard, even harder than I was before, to try and get into the team."
Souttar, who has 14 caps and six goals for the Green and Gold, added that he had a good conversation with Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers about his expectations.
"Obviously met him (Brendan Rodgers) last night," he said.
"We had just had a good discussion about the club and the history of the club, the way he wants to play, what he expects from every player and knows their jobs or roles and responsibilities.
"It was that was a good chat and I'm just eager to get on the pitch now."
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Leicester's away trip to Aston Villa, Rodgers discussed Souttar's signing and lauded his quality on the ball.
The East Midlands outfit sit 14th in the league standings, one point above the drop zone and the boss intimated his arrival provides an aerial presence in both boxes.
"Delighted, seeing Harry (Souttar) as a younger player and obviously seeing the trauma of coming through a bad injury that he had," he said.
"And then seeing his performances at Stoke and in the World Cup. I also spoke to a number of people I really respect in the game who spoke so highly of him and I can see why having met him and spoke with him.
"He’s a young player who’s on the way up, done very well in the Championship and seen him on loan in Scotland (at Ross County) when he was a young player when I worked there (for Celtic).
"He’s going to come in and show his qualities into the Premier League and gives us that stature we’ve been looking for, but as you’ve seen in the World Cup he can play football as well.
"So delighted to have Harry in and just in these first few days, he’s made a really good impact already."
Rodgers confirmed Souttar is currently managing a niggling hip issue which could delay his debut by another week, but will be assessed again before the clash at Villa Park on Sunday morning 2am (AEDT).