Sol Bamba says it was an "easy decision" to make his United switch permanent after soon being convinced that those in charge are "trying to do something big at the club".

The 30-year-old penned a two-year deal at Elland Road with the option of a third last week, having made a big impression while on loan from Palermo for the second half of the 2014/15 season.

Bamba featured 19 times for United last season, occasionally captaining the side, and soon became a big fans’ favourite with his commanding displays at the heart of defence, which prompted the club into securing his services permanently.

“It’s great to be signing my contract here,” he said. “I always said I wanted to remain at the club so it’s good news.

“I need to kick-on – it’s good that the contract has been sorted out – but now I need to get on with my football and try to do the best thing as an individual and as a team.”

Bamba penned his contract almost two months after the end of the season but the Ivory Coast international  insists that a return to Elland Road was always his number one priority despite the wait to get the deal over the line.

“To be fair, that’s negotiations,” he explained. It can take some time or it can be done quickly.

“It was always the number one target in my mind so it was an easy decision.

“I was thinking about who was going to be the next manager – the people in charge had to make the right decision.

“I spoke with all of them and it’s looking like they’re trying to do something big at the club, that’s what convinced me to sign.

“The manager came in, phoned me up and I had a good chat with him – it was an easy decision in the end.”

Bamba underlined the ambition of the club as one of the key factors in making the switch, saying the aim is to now progress up and out of the Championship.

“The club obviously has to spend a bit of money to bring some players in – that’s the reality of any football club – and I think ambition is the most important thing,” he said.

“I don’t want to be at the club just to say that I’m at the club. I want to win games and help the team get as far as possible as we can.

“It’s about promotion, it’s about play-offs, it’s about getting in the Premier League in the next couple of years.”