Whitehead joined the Potters in a £3million move and has signed a four-year contract.
“Steve Bruce was not too keen on me leaving, but he knew I needed a fresh start and we came to an agreement,” Whitehead told the Sunday Sun.
“A lot of the talk about me moving happened before he got to the club.
“I did speak to him, but that was more about pre-season because my mind was made up and nothing was really going to change that.
“It was a wrench to leave the club because I had five great years there and I was captain for three.
“But I felt my time there had come to an end and I needed a new challenge. That’s what I have here at Stoke.”
Whitehead has admitted that he spoke to Liam Lawrence and Danny Higginbotham about a move to Stoke.
He added: “I knew Stoke were interested a couple of months ago and I’m glad to have got it sorted out.
“I spoke to Liam and Dan a couple of times about the move and it obviously helps you to settle in knowing a couple of the lads.”
