Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend has described leaving former club Newcastle United as "extremely difficult", but added that he could not drop down to the Championship.
The 25-year-old signed for the Magpies in January 2016 after being frozen out at Tottenham Hotspur and quickly became a fan favourite at St James' Park.
However, following the Tyneside outfit's relegation from the Premier League, he subsequently sealed a £13m switch to the Eagles on a five-year deal.
Speaking of his time at Newcastle, Townsend told Sky Sports News: "I loved every minute of it, they took me from the Under-21s at Spurs to playing Premier League football in front of 52,000, they got the best out of me.
"The fans loved me, Rafael Benitez got the best out of me and it was extremely difficult to leave where you are loved, compared to a place where you are not so loved.
"I had a very productive time there, unfortunately it was not enough to stay in the Premier League. I had to think long and hard in the summer about what I wanted to do; stay and play in the Championship did not cross my mind, in the end. I had to go with my head and not my heart."
Townsend is set to make his competitive Palace debut against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
