Donovan has been without a club since his non-contract agreement with Rochdale wasn't renewed earlier this year.
The 1998 hero has struggled to find a club since agreeing to terminate his contract with Barnsley, just before Christmas.
He trained with Town first of all, although that was later put down to an old friends help by Paul Groves to help keep Donovan fit. The link up with then Rochdale manager Alan Buckley was no shock.
But once Buckley left Spotland Donovan's days were numbered. His replacement, returning hero Steve Parkin, quickly showed Donovan the door.
York player-manager Chris Brass has handed Donovan until the end of the season to prove his worth after the sale of Lee Bullock to Cardiff. Donovan, along with fellow new recruit Richard Offiong will go straight into York's squad for tomorrow's game with Torquay.