Arsenal defender has revealed he turned down an offer from before jumping at the chance to join the Gunners.
The Poland international arrived at the north club in January in a shock £20million transfer.
Kiwior was forced to bide his time to make an impression given the impressive partnership and William Saliba forged last season, but the latter’s injury belatedly gave the 23-year-old an opportunity to impress.
The combative centre-half looks likely to play a more prominent role next season but it could have been a different story had he accepted an offer from the Hammers.
He told (via ) when asked how it felt to be approached by Arsenal, he said: Super. ‘It was something special, but it’s hard for me to describe it.
‘I was very happy because the best league for me has always been the Premier League and I really wanted to play there, and when I found out about Arsenal, I couldn’t believe it.’
Asked if it was always his dream to play for Arsenal , he added: No, it was more about the league.
‘I had an offer from West Ham United before, which I turned down. They weren’t on the table, but they showed up. Then Arsenal came along and that was something special for me.’
The return to full fitness of both Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu, allied to the impending arrival of Jurrien Timber, will see the competition for places intensify still further next term, but Kiwior is confident he has made the right decision.
He added: ‘I think I’m at the right age for the best moment in my career and to move forward.
‘I’m happy that I changed clubs and got a chance and ended up in the starting lineups. It gave me a lot of confidence and I felt much better as a player and as a person.’
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