The 30-year-old has agreed an 18-month contract with the option of an extra year with the Tigers after departing MLS side San Diego Legion, where has spent the last year-and-a-half.
McNair has spent the majority of his career in the English second division with Sunderland and Middlesbrough, as well as a short loan spell at West Bromwich Albion before moving to the United States, but has never been part of a team to earn their place in the Premier League the following season.
The hope is it will be fourth club lucky for the Ballyclare man, Hull currently fourth in the table just eight points adrift of leaders Coventry City and five points back of second-placed Middlesbrough.
And have signed on until the end of the 2026/27 campaign, McNair is keen for the second season of his deal to be in the Premier League.
“It feels great to be here. It had been in the pipeline for a couple of weeks, so I’m very happy to get it over the line,” said the 81-times capped defender, who can also play midfield.
“I had a Zoom call with the manager a few weeks ago. He seems quite laid-back and chilled, and everyone speaks highly of him. I also spoke to ‘Crooksy’ (Matt Crooks) and ‘Gilo’ (Ryan Giles) before I came and they said all the lads in the changing room are great.
“I’ve played in the Championship for a lot of seasons and the one thing I’m missing is a promotion. It was a great opportunity to come to a big club that’s sitting well in the table. It would be great if we can push on towards the end of the season and get that goal.
“My best quality is probably with the ball. I love finding passes between the lines and competing. There’s nothing better than competing and getting three points.
“The biggest thing I missed while playing in America was definitely the atmosphere. I can’t wait to get back among it, competing and helping the team.”
Former Manchester United youngster McNair started his career at Old Trafford, making 27 Premier League appearances before switching to Sunderland in 2016 and then heading on to their north-west rivals Middlesbrough two years later, where he became a cult hero at the Riverside.
The centre-back was the club’s Player of the Year in 2021 and helped them reach the Play-Offs two years after that, agonisingly missing out on promotion, before departing for San Diego – via West Brom – for the 2025 season, making 26 appearances and helping them top the Western Conference.
On the international stage, McNair is one of Michael O’Neill’s trusted lieutenants, as well as one of the Kings of Lyon from the 2016 European Championships.
