JASON DEMETRIOU has described his decision to leave Orient for Cypriot top flight side AEK Larnaca as the hardest he has ever had to make.

22-year-old midfielder Demetriou made 167 first team appearances for the O's after coming through the Brisbane Road youth system and he admitted it would be a wrench to leave the O's behind.

Demetriou was capped three times by the Mediterranean island nation during the 2008/09 season and he sees his move to AEK as a chance to get his international career back on track.

Fellow Cypriot First Division side APOEL made quite a stir in the UEFA Champions League last term, drawing with Chelsea and Atlético Madrid, and Demetriou would love to help AEK attempt to reach those heights.

He told leytonorient.com: "Of course I'm sad to be leaving Orient. They're my boyhood club and it's been a dream to play for them.

"It's hard to leave that behind, but I need to in order to benefit my career and this is a fantastic opportunity for me.

"I made three appearances for Cyprus the season before last, and played really well in those first two games, but I wasn't picked at all last season and the manager [Angelos Anastasiadis] said playing in Cyprus would help my cause.

"It'll be a big change for me, but it's nice to get this opportunity because not many players get this kind of chance - it's the right place at the right time for me.

"I've only seen one or two domestic Cypriot games, but it looks to be a good standard. The boys I've played with on the national side could easily hold their own in the Championship or higher and I'm looking forward to competing here and working with the likes of Jordi Cruyff and Iván Campo at AEK.

"I'm really grateful for Orient giving me the opportunity in the game and I'm thankful for everything they've done for me.

"I'm sad to be leaving and I hope to be back one day."