Essendon will sign Brisbane Lions' ruckman Matthew Leuenberger as a free agent.

Leuenberger, 27, who had also attracted interest from Sydney, has agreed to join the Bombers on a three-year contract, which will be lodged in the coming days.

Headed for Bombers: Lion Matthew Leuenberger. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo

Under the rules, the Lions have the right to match the offer and force a trade, but Brisbane has no intention of doing so and will accept the compensation draft selection for the ruckman, who is likely to earn the Lions an early second-round draft pick; at this stage, that pick would be pick no 22, straight after Brisbane's second-round pick no 21.

Leuenberger represents the first major free agent signing for Essendon since Brendon Goddard in 2012 and the first free agent of note that the club has attracted since the ASADA scandal arising from the 2012 season.