Okay Yokuşlu admits his “love” for Albion, his teammates, and the club’s fans combined to ensure an emotional return to the place he calls “home”.
The Türkiye international midfielder received a warm welcome as he arrived at The Hawthorns on Saturday, just 14 months after his Premier League loan spell at the club ended.
Yokuslu, who has signed a three-year contract with Albion, says he has unfinished business in the Black Country and is “excited, motivated and ready” for the challenge of earning promotion back to the top-flight.
He said: “I’m very, very happy to be here. Actually, I missed the place – teammates, everything. It’s nice to be at the training ground again, that’s good.
“I’m excited to start the season. I made that first session today and it was good, I feel good. I’m looking forward to playing with my teammates. I really missed them, when I saw them I just wanted to hug them. They are kind, good people and I hope we can be happy at the end of the season all together. Hopefully we can celebrate with the whole club, the Baggies fans, and all the players.
“I accept that challenge [to be promoted]. Actually, this is the only place I can accept that challenge, because I want to fight with the guys for this club.
“I’m really motivated and hopefully we can get promoted. I can give my word that I will give my best, and we will give our best, so hopefully we can be happy.
“It will be tough, especially the first weeks, months, but we will need to work hard as a family. We are ready, I am ready.
“That’s why I came here, actually; when I was here I was feeling really good, I love the club, the people at the club. It feels like home, always, so I came home.”
The 28-year-old added: “I had a really special relationship with the fans, they are really amazing, the Baggies are the best for me. We have a good relationship and they always support the team. They are fantastic so I am really looking forward to playing in front of them to make them happy.
“I’m really excited and motivated. I took care of my body and my fitness, I really feel good. I’m really looking forward to playing.”