Highly-rated Swedish midfielder Rasmus Elm will sign for AZ Alkmaar after admitting today that he would rather wait for the chance to play in the Premier League.

Elm said on his decision to join Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar : "I chose to take an ‘intermediate step’ because I think it suits my development best."

The Swedish international will undergo a medical at AZ on Thursday and sign a four-year contract. Kalmar are expected to receive a fee of between four and five million euros.

The youngest of the Elm brothers has received a huge number of offers this summer from the top five leagues in Europe. Parma and Bayern Munich were understood to be scouting Elm whilst Kalmar received official offers from AZ Alkmaar , Fulham, Everton and Bayer Leverkusen.

The 21-year-old central midfielder said: "It was a difficult decision to make. I have been so well received by all the clubs I visited. It felt almost a bit sad to have to call Roy Hodgson and say no to Fulham. But I felt that I needed to call him myself."

Elm added: "To take the jump into the Premier League is a very big step. But, I’m only 21 now and can play in a major league in the future. My goal is of course to play at the highest level possible."

Rasmus Elm was named an IMScouting Player to Watch in July, a full scouting report can be seen here.