Sydney FC have signed Socceroos defender Sasa Ognenovski until the end of the A-League season.

The Sky Blues confirmed the new deal on Tuesday amid speculation the 34-year-old was on the verge of putting pen to paper.

Ognenovski left Qatari club Umm-Salal in December and was keen to return to Australia to help boost his chances of a World Cup call-up, having been axed from the national squad by new coach Ange Postecoglou before November’s friendly against Costa Rica.

The centre-half is set to join his new teammates for training on Thursday and will be available for Saturday’s home game against Adelaide United at Allianz Stadium.

“It is always good when you are wanted by a big club and Sydney FC are an iconic club in Australian football,” Ognenovski said.

“It will be an honour to pull on the sky blue shirt.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing back in the Hyundai A-League and I know the standard and the quality of the league.”

Coach Frank Farina said Ognenovski’s wealth of experience at international and club level would bring extra stability to his side’s back four.

“He recently helped Australia qualify for the World Cup in Brazil and has also won the Asian Champions League and Asian Player of the Year, so we are bringing in real quality to back up what we already have in that position,” Farina said.

“Sasa demands success and is the type of player and character we want at this club.”