Ghana and Philadelphia Union forward David Accam was left disappointed over his failed move to Stoke City in 2016.
The 28-year-old was closing in on a move to the English club after the Potters showed interest in him when he was playing for Chicago Fire.
Accam had successfully trained with Stoke for a week during the MLS off-season but the Right to Dream Academy graduate joined Philadelphia Union from Chicago Fire leaving the winger a frustrated figure.
“I was close to joining them, I trained with them and there were talks for me to possibly join them but injury set in,” he spoke on GH one TV.
“When I trained with them they liked me and wanted to sign me.
“Yes I regret but then everything happens for a reason, I would have loved to play in England.
“Stoke is a big club and so to me, it was an opportunity for me but I got injured. It was very disappointing.”
He attracted interest from several big clubs in France, Germany, and Sweden despite being monitored by Stoke during that period, however, he left for the MLS.
He regrets the missed opportunity.
“I wanted to play in Europe and did my best to get the offers from Europe," Accam explained.
"Offers did come from Europe but then Chicago Fire decided to trade me to Philadelphia Union.
“Clubs from Europe were willing to pay $3million [€2,624,787] to sign me but Chicago Fire felt they wanted to trade me to a fellow MLS side rather than let me go for $3 million.
“Trading in the MLS comes with some benefits for the clubs. They have their own terms and so they felt the terms were better than letting me go for $3 million.
“I did everything possible to go back to Europe but when the offers came, I couldn’t do anything about it because everything fell on Chicago Fire because I was under a contract with them.”
After three seasons with Chicago, on 19 January 2018 Accam was traded to Philadelphia Union in exchange for $900,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and $300,000 in General Allocation Money.