Kasper Schmeichel says leaving Leicester City had never crossed his mind this summer.
The City keeper has responded to speculation he had handed in a transfer request after City rejected several offers from Hull City for his services.
The Denmark international says he is fully committed to playing for City and while he admits he is determined to play in the Premier League, he said he harbours that ambition with City.
"It's been a strange summer, coming to terms with what happened to the team at the end of last season and not getting much of a break due to internationals, but there has never been a thought in my mind that I wouldn't be coming back to Leicester," he said.
"I've said many times before that I enjoy playing for this Football Club, I enjoy coming to work every day and I want to be successful here.
"You hear speculation of things you're supposed to have said or done like handing in transfer requests and it's just ridiculous. I've never said I wanted to leave Leicester.
"Like every professional, I want to play at the highest level, but I want to do that with Leicester and, with the players, management, staff and fans we have here, I know we can achieve that.
"It's a big season coming up for us now. We need to make sure we're focused on what we want to achieve and work harder than anyone else to make sure we achieve it."
Schmeichel has been given extra time off after his season was extended by international duty with Denmark and will link up with the squad on their training in Austria next month.
The 26-year-old played 53 domestic games last season but says he is already looking forward to the new campaign.
"The way last season ended was painful for all of us, but that kind of experience will make us stronger as a group and I'm sure we can come back better for it this season," he said.
"There are some big characters in our dressing room - it's a squad full of players that want to do well for this club and mount a big challenge next year. The Championship is always a tough league to do well in, but we know as a group what we're capable of.
"We've seen the fixtures come out, which normally acts as a little jolt that the season is just around the corner, and when Middlesbrough comes around on August 3, we'll be ready."
A club spokesman added: "Kasper has been the subject of considerable speculation this summer and the club wishes to re-iterate that he has not requested a transfer, is not for sale and remains a committed and key member of Nigel Pearson's squad as we prepare for another push for promotion to the Premier League in the 2013/14 season."
