It’s fair to say that the Bluebirds have not had much to get excited about when it comes to signings over the last few years.
The only time where Bluebirds fans felt optimistic about their acquisitions was their short spell in the Premier League, bringing in high-profile players such as Gary Medel from Sevilla for £11 million and Steven Caulker for £8 million.
However, these players failed to impress during their time in South Wales and were eventually sold on.
An exciting time for the Bluebirds was their lead-up to winning the title – bringing in several players that significantly bolstered their squad.
Since their relegation from the top-flight, their signings have been nowhere in comparison to the days of Malky Mackay.
Here, FootballLeagueWorld writer Ashley Williams identifies Cardiff’s THREE best signings over the past five years based on their impact for the club...
Aron Gunnarsson
Aron Gunnarsson agreed a three-year deal with Cardiff City on a free transfer in 2011 and made his debut in August on the first game of the new season, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 away win over West Ham United.
After a few months settling in, he scored two goals in a 5-3 victory against Barnsley, receiving the man of the match award.
Some of his highlights with the Bluebirds include playing the entirety of the 2012 Football League Cup Final, as City were beaten 3-2 on penalties by Premier League club Liverpool at Wembley, and scoring Cardiff's first goal in the Premier League on 25 August 2013, against Manchester City in a 3–2 win.
Following his return from Euro 2016, Gunnarsson was linked with a move away from the Welsh capital, but Cardiff City manager Paul Trollope described him as 'a very important player' at the club.
Craig Bellamy
After a successful loan spell from Manchester City in 2010, Bellamy returned to his boyhood club from Liverpool on a permanent deal - a move greatly received by the Bluebirds supporters.
He scored his first goal back at Cardiff with a 20-yard free kick against Leeds United in September, and netted his second goal of the season against Birmingham City in October.
Bellamy was part of the Cardiff City side that secured promotion to the top-flight for the first time since 1962, and played a part in their season in the Premier League, later becoming the academy coach at Cardiff in 2014.
He will always be regarded as an iconic figure in South Wales.
Fraizer Campbell
Despite only two seasons with the Bluebirds, he has been one of their most prolific goalscorers since the days of Michael Chopra, Ross McCormack and Robert Earnshaw.
He signed for the Bluebirds in January 2013 and was crowned the Championship player of the month for February after scoring five goals during that month.
His seven goals in 12 appearances helped the Bluebirds climb into the Premier League and, during their season in the top-flight, he scored two famous goals to beat Premier League giants Manchester City 3-2.
He finished the season with nine goals in all competitions.
Cardiff fans... do you agree? Are these the best signings over the past five years? Can the club ever sign players like these in the future? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!