Devitt joins on a one-year deal, subject to international clearance.

The 22-year-old, who had been on trial with the club, recently completed a four-year football scholarship in the United States.

He had been training with the Heed since the start of the month and featured in the pre-season matches against Newcastle Benfield, Guiseley AFC, Livingston and, most recently, Blyth Spartans.

Originally from Newcastle, Devitt joins after completing a four-year scholarship in the USA where he featured for Lionsbridge FC in Virginia.

Gateshead have also signed 20-year-old goalkeeper Aynsley Pears on a season-long loan from Championship side Middlesbrough.

Twenty-year-old Pears was a regular in Boro`s under-19 side before making the step up to the under-23s.

Not short of National League experience, Pears linked up with Darlington in January 2018, originally on a month`s loan deal which was extended until the end of the season.

The young Boro stopper was one of the reasons for the Quakers` drastic change of form, and Gateshead manager Steve Watson will be hoping to see similar performances at the International Stadium this season.

He told https://www.gateshead-fc.com: “Aynsley is someone that we`ve been trying to bring in all summer. He`s a very good young keeper”.