Northern Ireland international Jonny Steele has joined the Newcastle Jets for the next two Australia A-League seasons, the club said on Sunday.

Midfielder Steele, 28, joins the Jets from Major League Soccer team New York Red Bulls where he was a teammate of Socceroos star Tim Cahill.

Steele made 50 MLS appearances for the Red Bulls, scoring six goals in two seasons.

Steele has made three international appearances for Northern Ireland, most recently against Uruguay and Chile in the lead-up to this year's FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

"I spoke to Tim Cahill about the Newcastle Jets and the A-League itself and he had plenty of good things to say," Steele said.

Jets head coach Phil Stubbins said Steele had been signed for the next two A-League seasons.