Jordan Ayew has revealed he turned down the chance to return to France so he could take care of unfinished business in the Premier League with Swansea.

Ayew, 25, signed for the Swans from Aston Villa on deadline day as part of a transfer that saw Neil Taylor head to the West Midlands.

The Ghanaian, whose brother Andre scored 12 goals for the Welsh club last season, was on international duty at the African Cup of Nations when the deal was completed, and he missed the defeat to Manchester City as a result.

The forward suffered the ignominy of the drop with Villa last term, as they finished a miserable season rooted to the foot of the table.

Ayew admits he had the chance to leave English football in January and head back across the Channel, where he had previously played for Marseille, Sochaux and Lorient.

But he wanted to prove he was a better player than he felt he had been able to show in difficult circumstances at Villa.

"I am so grateful for this chance, I am one of the happiest people in the world," he said.

"I heard about the move maybe around two weeks before the end of the transfer window and when I heard about it I was pleased.

"I knew a lot about the club from my brother and felt it was better than going back to France or another country.

"There were opportunities to go to France or elsewhere but I wanted to be in the Premier League at a club that is growing in confidence and plays good football.

"It was difficult with Aston Villa and I feel like I have a lot I want to prove in the Premier League."