SYDNEY – Former Leeds and Liverpool winger Harry Kewell has signed a short-term deal with Qatar’s Al Gharafa, ending a year-long spell without a club.

Kewell left Melbourne Victory at the end of last year’s A-League season for family reasons.

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

Kewell had hoped to find a club in England over the past year to stay close to his family home in Cheshire.

The deal could revive hopes of Kewell rejoining Australia for its 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, although he is unlikely to feature in crucial June matches against Japan, Jordan and Iraq.

Agencies