Essendon's emerging midfielder Sam Durham has penned a new deal, signing with the club for the next four years.

The deal will see the hard-running midfielder remain in the red and black until at least the end of 2028.

Durham said sharing the news with his family was an extremely proud moment.

"It's pretty surreal to sign with this great club. Coming from getting picked up on the rookie list to signing a two-year deal and now a four-year deal, it's massive, not only for me but also for my family," Durham said.

"It was very special to call Mum up and give her the good news. I do this not only to play footy but to make my family and Mum proud. She drove me across the countryside for a good part of 18 years, so it's awesome to get this new deal, especially for Mum."

After playing the first part of his career on the wing, the 22-year-old has played predominantly inside midfielder over the first two games of 2024.

With a group of players recently committing to the club, Durham said he was thrilled to continue working alongside them while crediting his growth to the support of the coaching group.

"It's good to be part of the core group going forward, with the likes of Darcy [Parish], 'Junior' [Zach Merrett], Mason [Redman], and 'Rids' [Jordan Ridley] all committing long-term. We now know we will play a lot of footy together and can build a strong foundation for the team,” Durham said.

"Brad has been huge for me in giving me confidence in my game. Brad and 'Gia' [Daniel Giansiracusa] are strong in pushing me to do more for the team, so they've both been massive for my development and confidence.

"Bombers fans are awesome. You've always looked after me in my short time here and I can't wait to see you all at games in the future."

Hailing from Seymour in regional Victoria and joining the Bombers in 2021 as a mid-season rookie, Durham has flourished at the NEC Hangar.

With 51 games already to his name, Durham's hard running, tough-contested football and strength in the air have quickly made him a fan favourite.

Durham's breakout moment came on one of the biggest stages, Dreamtime at the 'G last year, when he kicked the match-winning goal just before the siren to give the Bombers a one-point victory over Richmond.

General Manager of AFL Daniel McPherson said the deal reflected Durham's growth and development since arriving at the club.

"Sam is a highly regarded and much-loved member of our playing group, who has taken his football to the next level since being drafted as a rookie in 2021," McPherson said.

"Sam is continuously challenged to keep growing his game, demonstrated through his time spent as an inside midfielder in the early stages of this season. He is dedicated to becoming the best footballer he can, and this deal is a fantastic reward for all his hard work over the past few years.

"At only 22 years old, Sam has become a very important player for us, and we’re excited about the player he can become for our footy club over the next four years and beyond."