NEW recruit Callum Wilson admitted it was tough to separate his emotional attachment to boyhood club Coventry City to progress his career with Cherries.

The sought-after striker, 22, yesterday signed on the dotted line at Dean Court for an undisclosed fee understood to be in the region of £2million with performance-based enhancements.

Wilson's four-year deal, which also saw Cherries goalkeeper Ryan Allsop and winger Mohamed Coulibaly switch to the Sky Blues on loan until January 2015, was completed after weeks of speculation, despite Norwich City entering the race at the 11th-hour.

But the Coventry-born hitman, who struck 22 goals for City in League One last season, was adamant he had made the right choice having picked Dean Court as his destination.

In a parting message to Coventry supporters, Wilson told City's official website: “It’s every player’s dream to play for their hometown club and to score so many goals last season went beyond those dreams.

“I was playing for Coventry with so many of the lads I grew up and I can’t thank Steven Pressley (City manager) enough for giving me that chance and believing in me from the start of the season.

“When I was asked at the end of last season whether I was going to stay, I really believed that I would be here (at Coventry) at the start of next season.

“But as the weeks have passed, there has been more and more interest from clubs in the Championship and it became clear to me that there was a real chance to play in a higher division.

“It gave me a really big decision to make and it’s not one I have taken lightly and I think most supporters will understand just how tough a choice this was for me.

“I have sat down and talked it through with Steve Waggott and Steven Pressley, my family, everyone at Bournemouth and it just felt like the right move at the right time.

“I have to let my head rule my heart as this is my career."