The Newcastle Jets have signed Northern Ireland international Jonny Steele until the conclusion of the 2015/16 Hyundai A-League season.
The Newcastle Jets have signed Northern Ireland international Jonny Steele until the conclusion of the 2015/16 Hyundai A-League season.
Steele joins the Jets from Major League Soccer (MLS) team New York Red Bulls, where he was formerly a teammate of current Jets player David Carney and Socceroos star Tim Cahill.
The 28-year-old midfielder made 50 MLS appearances for the Red Bulls, scoring six goals in two seasons at the Club.
Prior to that Steele played for Real Salt Lake in the MLS, making 28 appearances during the 2012 season and scoring two goals.
Steele has made three international appearances for Northern Ireland, most recently featuring in friendly matches against Uruguay and Chile in the lead-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Steele said he is looking forward to testing himself in Australia.
“It-s an exciting new chapter in my career,” Steele said.
“I spoke to David Carney and Tim Cahill about the Newcastle Jets and the A-League itself and they both had plenty of good things to say.
“It-s a growing league with lots of opportunities and now I-m just looking forward to getting to Newcastle and seeing for myself what it is all about.
“Having spoken to Phil (Stubbins) and Robbie (Middleby), I-m excited to be part of what they are looking to build there.
“I-m a hard working player who gives 100 per cent every time I-m on the field and that-s what I-ll look to bring to the Jets.”
Newcastle Jets head coach Phil Stubbins said the Club was delighted to have secured the services of Steele for the next two Hyundai A-League seasons.
“Jonny is an established player who comes to us at a good age and with good experience under his belt from his time in the MLS,” Stubbins said.
“His signing certainly adds strength to our midfield, particularly on the left-hand side and he-s a player that is capable of contributing goals as well, which is a obviously a very valuable attribute.
“We-re very excited and happy to have Jonny at the Jets and we-re looking forward to welcoming him to Newcastle.”
