EWAN OTOO has revealed that his heart was set on a return to Dunfermline after a season that he didn't want to end.

The 20-year-old, who played 11 times for the club since joining on loan from Celtic in February, last week put pen to paper on a three-year deal to make the move to KDM Group East End Park on a permanent basis.

A graduate of the Hoops' youth academy, Scotland youth cap Otoo signed his professional deal with the Glasgow giants in June 2019, and was captain of their 'B' team.

He had another year on his deal at Celtic Park – and there were discussions between him and the club over him staying – but he is thrilled that an agreement was reached to allow him to rejoin James McPake's League One title winners.

"I'm delighted to be here," he told Press Sport.

"I think the three year deal shows the faith that the gaffer and the club have in me, so hopefully I can just repay that with good performances on the pitch.

"I think my loan spell, I enjoyed it a lot. I feel like I really connected with the fans, and when I got my opportunity, I feel like I did well, I took my chance, and hopefully this offers me an opportunity to develop, become even better and help the team as much as I possibly can."

When asked if there was interest from elsewhere, and if Celtic was one of the options he had, Otoo, who can play in defence or midfield, noted: "I did have an option (with Celtic), and we did discuss it, but I think both parties came to the conclusion that the best thing was for us to part ways.

"I did have interest from elsewhere. I had a couple of other clubs that were monitoring my situation but, as I said, I had my mind pretty much made up. I think this is the best place to continue my development.

"To be fair, I didn't want last season to end, I enjoyed it that much! In my head, I knew that this would be the best place for me to be playing football next season. I had that made up."

Otoo is close friends with Kane Ritchie-Hosler – despite previously playing on either side of the divide between Celtic and Rangers, with the pair also playing on loan together previously for Clyde – and has followed the winger, who signed last month, in turning a loan move into a permanent stay.

Former Manchester City youngster Ritchie-Hosler joked that he had been trying to convince Otoo to join him back at East End and, when asked how much he helped, the defender laughed: "He was quite influential to be fair!

"He was texting me, he was getting in my ear, but I already had my mind pretty much made up. It wasn't anything to do with Kane; I always knew I wanted to come back here.

"We know each other quite well. It's good to have a person like Kane here as well – it makes everything a lot more comfortable for me, even though I was comfortable before, and still am now."