Ma, who has played just 13 matches since 2012, is the club’s fifth visa player for the 2016/ 17 season.

He was signed to the Ledman LigaPro (second division) in Portugal with Cova da Piedade for 2016 but failed to make an appearance for the club.

Ma arrived in Australia a fortnight ago and trialled with the Jets during the club’s 2016 tour of China in late August and early September.

“The whole Club has given me a lot of help, and I will try to do my best to repay the faith that has been put in me to come to Newcastle," Ma said. “Of course I feel the pressure of being the only Chinese player in the A-League, but I hope I can turn that pressure into motivation.”

Jets head coach Mark Jones said the Chinese midfielder could provide a spark for his side.

“Leilei has got a lovely left peg, which we don’t have in terms of delivery of set pieces, so that gives us another option there,” he said. “More importantly he has got that little ‘X Factor’, that little bit of silk under pressure where he can make something out of nothing.

“This weekend (against Sydney FC) might be a little bit too early, but I would expect in the next couple of weeks he may be able to make an impact.”