Tait, 28, has impressed on trial with the Minstermen and scored in City's 1-1 draw against Leeds United last week in a pre-season friendly at Bootham Crescent.

Born in Middlesbrough, Tait started his career at Hartlepool United but moved to the USA in 2009 after securing a scholarship at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky.

He spent two years playing college soccer before joining the professional ranks with the Dayton Dutch Lions and Major League Soccer outfit Philadelphia Union.

Tait returned to his native north-east in September 2012, playing under current City manager Martin Gray as Darlington 1883 won the Ebac Northern League First Division title.

He joined Conference side Gateshead in May 2013 but returned to Darlington midway through the 2013/14 season on loan.

After being released by Gateshead in summer 2014, Tait joined Spennymoor and helped the club win back-to-back promotions to National League North.

He made over 100 appearances and scored 31 goals for the Moors but rejected the offer of a new contract this summer.

City manager Martin Gray told https://www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk: "I had Joe for a few years when I was manager of Darlington and gained promotions with him. He's someone I really trust as a person and he's gone on to do very well at this level for Spennymoor Town.

"He is a natural leader and very, very vocal.

"He's a really strong individual and, as a character, he brings an awful lot. We need leaders, winners, personalities and - with the players we have brought in this summer - we have got a lot of that now".