HARRY Kewell's year-long spell without a club is finally over after the 34-year-old signed a short-term deal with Qatari club Al Gharafa.

The Former Leeds and Liverpool star had been without a club since leaving Melbourne Victory at the end of last year's A-League season for family reasons.

Al Gharafa, who announced the deal on their website, said Kewell had only been recruited until the end of the current Qatar Stars League season which ends in May.

Kewell has already joined his new teammates in a training session and is preparing to make his debut for Al Gharafa's match with Al Sadd on Saturday.

He joins fellow Socceroo Mark Bresciano at Al-Gharafa, but the two won't play together in the remaining three games of the league season with Bresciano to miss at least another month with a knee injury.

Bresciano could be back for part of the their Asian Champions League campaign.

Al Gharafa are currently second in their group after three matches and are well-placed to advance to the knockout stages.

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Kewell's former Liverpool teammate Djibril Cisse is currently on-loan with Al Gharafa from Queens Park Rangers, while Brazilian pair Alex and Nene, who starred with Spartak Moscow and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, are also on the books.

Kewell had been hopeful of finding a club in England over the past year to stay close to his family home in Cheshire.

Many expected him to return to the A-League after being linked to a move to the Newcastle Jets while Perth Glory were also reportedly interested in bringing him back.

The Al Gharafa deal could revive hopes of Kewell re-joining the Socceroos while he remains unlikely to feature in June's crucial World Cup qualifiers against Japan, Jordan and Iraq.

Originally published as Kewell signs with Qatari club