The 35-year-old has been a free agent since leaving Russian Premier League side Dynamo Moscow at the end of last season.

The signing gives coach Graham Arnold another solid option at right-back after an ACL injury to Rhyan Grant, while Wilkshire can also cover a variety of other positions.

The 80-cap Socceroo has never played club football in Australia before, having joined Middlesbrough after coming through the AIS as a teenager.

He has also enjoyed previous stints with Dutch clubs Feyenoord and FC Twente, and English side Bristol City, but said he was looking forward to testing himself in the A-League.

"I've spent a lot of years playing my football outside of Australia and like many Australians playing overseas, who have never played in the A-League, I have always wanted to come back at some point and experience the competition," Wilkshire said.

"I'm aware and impressed by the standard of the league from what I've seen from abroad, so I take nothing for granted."

Arnold was an assistant to Guus Hiddink in the early days of Wilkshire's international career and the veteran said that was a "big factor" in why he chose to join the Sky Blues.

"I'm really looking forward to working with him again," Wilkshire said of two-time A-League championship winning coach.

"I also have Socceroo friends in the squad in Dave Carney, Alex Brosque, Josh Brillante and Alex Wilkinson."

Wilkshire's signing comes a day after the reigning A-League champions secured fringe Socceroos goalkeeper Alex Cisak.