Cardiff City won the ultimate prize from Sunderland AFC transfer | OneFootball

Fraizer Campbell provided the added boost needed for Cardiff City to secure Premier League promotion in 2013

Cardiff City were 10 points clear atop the Championship table when they signed Fraizer Campbell in January 2013, and the former Manchester United youth product's contributions helped all but secure a first Premier League season for the Welsh side.

The then-25-year-old arrived from Sunderland for just £650,000 as the Black Cats looked to cash in on the striker who was out of contract that summer.

Campbell's only past venture into the Championship came in the 2007/08 season when he was on loan at Hull City from the Red Devils. Then, he scored 15 and assisted 10 as the Tigers won promotion, and his return to the second division saw him pick up where he left off.

He averaged better than a goal every other game in his first few months at the club en route to a Championship title, and when he was unable to keep the Bluebirds in the Premier League, Cardiff earned a small profit on him as he departed to Crystal Palace.

Fraizer Campbell's brief but productive time in South Wales

Fraizer Campbell had played just 12 league games in each of his last two Premier League seasons for Sunderland, and it was clear that the Black Cats would lose the frontman either that January or for free in the summer.

Then-boss Malky Mackay saw Premier League potential still in Campbell, and with Cardiff holding a commanding lead at the top of the Championship, he moved to bring him in for just £650,000.

Campbell's impact was instant, scoring from the bench on his debut in a 1-0 away win against Leeds United. He would follow that up with a brace on his first start, and his home debut, against Bristol City and then another brace away at Wolves two games later.

A shin injury limited his game time towards the end of the season, but he was able to make the final game of the campaign, a 2-2 draw against his former side Hull City, where he once again scored from the bench.

The Championship champions were unable to make their first stay in the Premier League last longer than a season; however, as Cardiff finished 20th, six points behind West Brom in 17th.

Campbell was unable to carry his goalscoring knack from the previous season into his top-flight return, scoring just six times, but his performances attracted the likes of Crystal Palace and Leicester City, who triggered the striker's £900,000 release clause to bring him back to the Premier League. In the end, Campbell chose to go to Crystal Palace.

Fraizer Campbell will always be thought highly of at Cardiff City

Despite the Championship season being as good as wrapped up for Cardiff when Fraizer Campbell signed, the Bluebirds will always have his goals to thank for ensuring that they finally made it over the line.

Cardiff had fallen short in the play-offs in each of the last three seasons, and missed out on the top six the season prior on goals scored, having netted one less than Preston North End that year.

The Welsh side won just six games in the Championship after Campbell's arrival, but the then-25-year-old's goals won three of those. In the end, Cardiff's eight-point barrier to second place was assured by his goals.