AARON Ramsdale believes his two loan spells helped him "grow up" and become the Premier League goalkeeper he is today.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper this week signed a new long-term contract at Cherries, having played every minute of top-flight action this season.

But his only other senior league action before this campaign came in the fourth and third tiers with temporary stays at Chesterfield, where he got relegated, and AFC Wimbledon.

Having returned from the Dons in the summer, Ramsdale has forced his way past the challenges of Asmir Begovic, Artur Boruc and Mark Travers to become Cherries number one and he admits those spells away proved pivotal.

Speaking to afcbTV, Ramsdale, who joined Cherries from Sheffield United in 2017, said: "The first two years (here) didn't go to plan. I probably didn't fulfil my potential as much as I should have.

"But two loan periods and two different loan periods have probably set me up to become the man I am on the pitch today and the man I am off the pitch."

He added: "I think I needed time to grow up and I think the loan periods definitely helped that. Going from League One to the Premier League was obviously a big step.

"It took me a while to adjust, but I certainly came down (from Sheffield United) and thought I could be involved a lot sooner."