The 27-year-old striker yesterday completed what is understood to be a £4million move from West Ham.

Harewood becomes the latest recruit by O'Neill, who has also bought Norway forward John Carew and former Hammers captain Nigel-Reo Coker this summer.

Former Nottingham Forest striker Harewood played a major role in West Ham regaining their top-flight status two years ago, when he scored 16 goals.

However, despite also figuring prominently in the run to the 2006 FA Cup final, he gradually slipped down the Hammers pecking order and last season netted only four goals.

Now, though, Harewood - who had also been linked with moves to Birmingham, Fulham, Portsmouth and most strongly Wigan - cannot wait to start life at Villa Park.

"I am absolutely thrilled to join such a big club with a fantastic tradition and such a great fan base," Harewood told PA Sport.

"I made a lot of friends at West Ham and had a happy time there.

"The side struggled as a whole last season, but battled through it and managed to survive.

"I could have been part of their plans for the new season, but I felt the time was right to move on.

"I certainly was not short of options, once I made myself available. I was aware that three Premier League clubs made bids, and Wigan were really keen to sign me.

"After travelling up there, my agent and myself were really impressed with the club and their manager Chris Hutchings and all his staff.

"Had it not been for Villa's late intervention, I would have been happy to sign for Wigan.

"However, at the last minute when Villa came out of the pack and once I had met Martin O'Neill, there was only one place I wanted to go.

"Martin has got such a fantastic name and reputation in the game, and he would be one of the managers you would want to work for in the Premier League.

"Once we had been up to Villa, seen around their new training ground and talked with Martin O'Neill about his plans, I was excited by it all."

Harewood - represented by the Professional Footballers' Association Player Management Agency - will join up with the rest of the Villa squad for the forthcoming tour of Canada.

The striker has every confidence he can make a major impact for his new club.

"I am not going there as a squad player," Harewood insisted.

"I have scored goals wherever I have gone - and Martin O'Neill is not interested in reputations, he is interested in people who deliver the goods.

"The boss made it crystal clear that if I perform and score goals, like I have always done, then I will be playing.

"The pairing of me and John Carew up front is certainly exciting, and there will be Gabriel Agbonlahor on the flank and Ashley Young floating behind the attackers, that is a recipe for goals.

"That is exactly what Martin O'Neill will be looking for - me to get in behind using my pace and power.

"I cannot wait to get going."