Robbie Fowler was delighted with his rapturous Cardiff reception after being unveiled at Ninian Park on Tuesday.
"The passion in the welcome is brilliant, I couldn't have asked for more," said the ex-England striker, 32.
"This club is a sleeping giant, there's such a buzz around the city with the new training ground and stadium on the way - what a time to join Cardiff."
Fowler, who was released by Liverpool at the end of last season, has signed a two-year deal at the Championship club.
"The main aim is to get back to the Premiership with Cardiff"
Cardiff put together a lucrative package to sign Fowler, who has rejected offers to join Leicester City and Sydney FC in Australia's A-League.
"The main aim is to get back to the Premiership with Cardiff," said Fowler.
"The club started well last year then fell away, but with the basis of that squad and the summer signings we can do it this season.
"The chairman [Peter Ridsdale] and manager [Dave Jones] have told me the plans for the future of this club and I was very impressed.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I've not done much pre-season work so now I can get started and hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later I can put the [Cardiff] shirt on.
"Obviously I'm confident of my ability and hopefully I'll show the Cardiff City supporters what I'm all about."
Fowler's move to Ninian Park sees him reunited with former Manchester City team-mate Trevor Sinclair - another Cardiff summer signing - and former Leeds United team-mate Stephen McPhail.
"To bank £4.5m for Chopra and then to get Robbie Fowler on a free transfer is good business"
His arrival comes just over a week after Cardiff sold last season's top scorer Michael Chopra to Sunderland for £4.5m.
Bluebirds boss Jones revealed he would have signed Fowler even if Chopra had stayed, and stressed the former England striker still has the hunger to be successful.
"He's certainly got that, that's not in question," Jones told BBC Sport Wales.
"And to bank £4.5m for Chopra and then to get Robbie Fowler on a free transfer is good business.
"It puts the club in a healthy position, which is what we've been fighting for over the last 12 months."
Sydney FC had hoped to lure Fowler, and the former England striker was impressed with the set up after travelling to Australia for talks.
But his representative George Scott revealed Sydney were unable to compete financially with the other offers for Fowler.
606: DEBATE
"The only thing against them is that Robbie is a Premiership player and he is used to Premiership money," said Scott.
"The Premiership is unique in terms of the crazy money it generates and there is nothing in the world that replicates it, not even Spain. That money is well beyond Sydney and the Australian league and we know that.
"It is really a battle between money and quality of life and believe me, quality of life counts for a lot of money. All the money in the world is not going to buy your family's happiness."
Fowler becomes Cardiff's sixth summer signing of the summer, following Sinclair, Gavin Rae, Steven MacLean, Tony Capaldi and Michael Oakes to Ninian Park.
Jones revealed he still wants to bring another goalkeeper and a striker before the start of the season, but categorically dismissed reports that Cardiff had agreed a £1m deal to sign Blackburn's Francis Jeffers.
"That is a total fabrication of a story," said Jones. "I just do not know where these people get it from.
"Someone asks you a question, you give an answer and all of a sudden two and two becomes 10. It's totally untrue and I find it absolutely amazing."
Fowler made his Liverpool debut as an 18-year-old in 1993, scoring 171 goals in 330 games before joining Leeds for £11m in 2001 and then Manchester City for £6m in 2003.
He returned for a second spell at Anfield in January 2006, although his starting appearances were limited.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~02~RS~)