Essendon Football Club is pleased to confirm Kyle Hardingham and Nick O’Brien have both re-signed with the club.

Hardingham has extended his contract for another season, while O’Brien has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal.

Considered an emerging leader of the football club, 20-year-old O’Brien is a talented young midfielder who has played five senior games since making his debut in late 2012. Hardingham has notched up 57 senior games with the Bombers since making his debut in 2010.

List Manager Adrian Dodoro said it was pleasing to have nearly finalised the club’s list for the upcoming season.

“The recent re-signings of Tom Bellchambers, Travis Colyer, Alex Browne and now Nick O'Brien and Kyle Hardingham over the off-season have reinforced the positive direction we believe we’re heading in as a club," Dodoro said.

"The players have shown their loyalty and it is great to see them all wanting to stay together as a core group.”

Hardingham, 25, said he was pleased to remain in the red and black for another season.

“It's really exciting to have re-signed with the club as there is a real belief amongst the playing group at the moment,” Hardingham said.

"The club has an enormous amount of depth and competition for spots is really tough which is a good thing - I'm looking forward to working hard over the pre-season and playing some really consistent footy next year."

O’Brien, who was recruited from North Ballarat, said he was excited to extend his contract for a further two years.

"I’m just thrilled the club has shown faith in my ability and I look forward to repaying that faith in the coming years.”

“We have a really strong list and we feel like we can really make our mark during the 2014 season."

Following yesterday’s trade with Greater Western Sydney to secure both Shaun Edwards and Kurt Aylett, Essendon coach Mark Thompson said it was great to add some exciting young talent to the list.

“It’s great to have Shaun and Kurt join the club just a couple of weeks out from pre-season,” Thompson said.

“Shaun and Kurt are both highly talented young players and we’re looking forward to developing them into consistent senior footballers playing the Essendon brand of football.”

Dodoro said both players had the potential to carve out successful careers at Essendon.

“Shaun and Kurt will provide us with plenty of options due to the fact they can play a variety of positions, they’re good decision makers under pressure and both have plenty of speed,” Dodoro said.

“They are exciting prospects who are going to add a lot of quality and depth to our list.”