Laurent Ciman has told L'Equipe the image of the Major League Soccer as "a league of retirees" is "false" after moving from LAFC to Dijon.
Belgium international Ciman has signed a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 side after a three-year spell in MLS.
The defender left Standard Liege for Montreal Impact in 2015, but remained part of the Belgium squad for Euro 2016 and would have been included in the World Cup party had Vincent Kompany not been fit.
"People have an image here [in Europe] of a league of retirees -- it's false," Ciman, 33, said. "There's really a good level there.
"Having said that, there are things to improve, such as the handling of the travelling between games, but I liked my experience there."
Ciman's arrival from Los Angeles reinforces a Dijon side that -- along with champions Paris Saint-Germain -- is the only one to have taken a maximum nine points from their first three games.
"The club had been following me for a while," he said. "I had the chance to meet the sporting director. In Los Angeles, they didn't give me the possibility to continue right now.
"I asked myself the right questions, which was whether it was the right moment to return to Europe. The fact this is a family club was also important for me.
"And I know I'll find a team that plays football. I like to play, I like to take risks. I can't imagine playing for a team that doesn't like to play good football. Dijon have a style that I like."
Ciman said a key reason for his return to Europe had been the infrastructure in place to support his daughter, who is autistic.
"It's not Canada in terms of what they can do for her, but the development of my daughter will always be at the heart of my project. The club knows that," he said.
"I have a daughter that has needs. I'm going to what is necessary so that we can meet them here."
