The Netherlands international left PSV Eindhoven for Dortmund after the Bundesliga club activated his release clause, reportedly worth around €22 million.
Veerman had several options before deciding on his next destination, but he was determined to wait for an opportunity that matched his ambitions.
“I had several options before. There was the Premier League and the Turkish league,” Veerman told RTL.
The 27-year-old ultimately decided that Dortmund offered the right combination of sporting level and European football.
“I waited for a big club that also plays Champions League football, because I played Champions League football for three years at PSV,” Veerman explained.
“Dortmund was therefore a perfect match for me.”
The midfielder has already made an impression at his new club. He was one of Dortmund's standout performers in their 3-2 Champions League victory over Villarreal and has quickly established himself as an important part of the midfield.
Veerman has also explained exactly how he sees his role.
His preferred position has evolved during his career, with former PSV coach Peter Bosz helping convince him that he could be most effective as a defensive midfielder.
“In Holland we played differently. We played with three midfielders, so with a six, an eight and a ten,” Veerman said.
“I always played on the left side, but my former coach Peter Bosz said that my best position was the six position.”
That is also the role Veerman believes suits him at Dortmund.
“I came here as a six as well. The position I played against Villarreal is a good position for me,” he said.
The move therefore gives Veerman the opportunity to continue playing Champions League football while taking on a different tactical responsibility.
His time at PSV had already given him extensive experience at Europe's highest club level, and Dortmund's decision to trigger his release clause allowed him to make the next step without waiting for a prolonged transfer negotiation.
The strong start against Villarreal has also given Veerman an early opportunity to demonstrate why Dortmund considered him worth the investment.
At 27, the midfielder arrives with considerably more experience than many of Dortmund's younger players and can offer both technical quality and familiarity with Champions League football.
For Veerman, however, the motivation behind the move was straightforward: he wanted a major club competing at the highest level in Europe.
Dortmund provided exactly that opportunity.