Gary Cahill made an impressive winning debut for Bolton last Saturday

Cahill turned down a move to Birmingham City in favour of last week's �5m switch to the Reebok.

And, after impressing on his Bolton debut in Saturday's win at Reading, he admitted: "It was a big decision as I was aware of all the interest.

"But I thought it was right to move to keep my progression going," Cahill told BBC Sport.

Cahill added that the rules of the loan system meant he had to move away from Villa on a permanent basis.

"There may have been options to go to the Premier League on loan but the gaffer wanted a call-back and you have to go window to window.

I know the players here at Bolton have a lot of quality which is proved by the fact that they are in Europe. We are strong enough to stay up Bolton's new signing Gary Cahill

"I said I wanted to originally go on loan to Sheffield United and he was more than comfortable with that because of the call-back he had in that deal."

Cahill, who is now due to return to Villa Park with Bolton on 5 April, also has no doubt that his new club have the quality to survive in the Premier League, despite the loss of key striker Nicolas Anelka.

"I know the players here have a lot of quality which is proved by the fact that they are in Europe.