THERE is a Hird back at Essendon.

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The Bombers have signed James' son Tom as a category B rookie, after the youngster had pursued a soccer career.

He recently had the opportunity to trial in the Netherlands, but having trained with Essendon last year, the small-bodied prospect has returned to the club where he has incredible bloodlines.

"We have been following him closely in the event he chose to return to football from elite soccer and pleasingly for our club, he has come to that decision," list manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"He is an athletic young sportsman with natural talent, but we will be taking a patient approach with his development as he begins to build his strength. 

"We're thrilled to have Tom join the red and black and watch him develop as a player over the coming years."

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His father James is renowned as one of the club's greatest ever players, having captained the Bombers' 2000 premiership team, and won a Brownlow and Norm Smith Medal.

He has been distant from the club since departing as senior coach at the end of 2015 after the disastrous supplements saga that engulfed the Bombers.

Tom is the fourth generation of his family to join the Bombers, following his father James, his grandfather Allan and great grandfather Allan Snr, who had a grandstand at Essendon's Windy Hill headquarters named after him.

The Bombers announced on Thursday that Hird has signed a two-year contract.