This is Staffordshire --JUAN Agudelo sees his half-season in the Netherlands as a chance to prove he can score goals in Europe.
The 21-year-old Stoke City forward has signed on loan for FC Utrecht while the Potters try to gain a work permit for him to play for them in England from next season.
He may have been one of the hottest properties in Major League Soccer last year, but this is his first opportunity to show he can cut it on this side of the Atlantic.
"I'm looking to get games in in Europe," said the Colombian-born striker. "Unfortunately it won't be in the EPL (English Premier League) yet, but playing in Europe is quality. To be able to test myself and see what I can do is awesome.
"It's another step towards my dream of playing in the Premier League. I've had to take a little different route, but I'm getting there.
"It's been a pretty crazy rollercoaster, but I'm happy to be here and excited to have six months (at Utrecht) to prove myself."
Agudelo is expected to have to wait until February 2 to make his debut for Utrecht, in a home match against Dutch giants Ajax, while he waits for more paperwork to clear.
He has not played a competitive game since scoring the winner for New England Revolution in an MLS game against Columbus Crew in October.
And he is still looking forward to the time he can finally pull on a Stoke shirt.
"There's a great sense of home at Stoke City, and that's not just because of the Americans already at the club (Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Maurice Edu), it's all the team-mates and staff," he said in an interview published on the official Stoke City website.
"Mark Hughes first contacted me when I was 17. Now that he's here at Stoke City he wanted me to come too, and that means a lot.
"The plan is to come back here at the start of next season and fight for a place in the team. I will give 110 per cent to the crest of Stoke City.
"I've been to the Brit a couple of times, and the 3-2 win against Chelsea was amazing.
"The amount of support that the Stoke City fans gave their players that day was unbelievable. I would love to be a part of that."
Referring to the rejection of his original work permit application in November, Agudelo added: "It's been a little bit frustrating, but hopefully I can get a few people more on my side with the work permit issue.
"However, Stoke have given me so much support and worked so hard to get me in that I'll go out of my way to repay the favour." Reported by This is 19 hours ago.