Football: All White Ryan Thomas completes big step up to PSV Eindhoven

All Whites midfielder Ryan Thomas has completed his remarkable transfer from PEC Zwolle to glamour club PSV Eindhoven in the top Dutch Eredivisie league.

Thomas, 23, has long been regarded as one of New Zealand's most promising football talents and now gets a chance with the 24-time Dutch champions.

"It's great," he said, after his first day with the new club. "Coming from PEC to PSV is a big step, but the boys have been good to me.

"The last few days, there has been a lot going on, with how long it has taken over the weekend to get the whole thing done, but I'm happy that it's finished now and we can just kick on with the football."

Thomas, who has played 10 games for the NZ national side, logged more than 100 appearances for Zwolle since 2013, scoring eight clubs and helping them to sixth in the Dutch competition in 2015.

"I spent basically the whole pre-season with PEC, so I think a few of the fans thought, 'he's going to stay, he's going to stay'," he said.

"With PSV, it happened in a few days and I'm happy to be here now.

"Obviously, the top three in Holland, last year's champions - they've got some great players and some of the big names have signed on again.

"For a player from PEC Zwolle to come to PSV, it's great."

Thomas expected his new environment to be a different level to what he was used to.

"The intesity level is a lot different to PEC, it's a lot higher and you have to fight for your place every day. That's what I'm looking forward to the most.

"As a midfielder, it's nice to have the freedom that trainer's telling me here, the same sort of style I was playing at PEC. Hopefully I can learn the tactics and style of play, and play as many games as I can.

"It's a big difference from PEC, with the amount of coaches and the level of the play."

Newshub.