Sydney premiership player Tadhg Kennelly is returning to the AFL, the Irishman signing a two-year deal with the Swans.

Kennelly, 28, has decided to return to the code after fulfilling his lifelong dream of winning an All-Ireland Gaelic Football final with County Kerry in September.

Kennelly walked on the Swans less than a year ago, fearing that playing on any longer in the AFL would seriously jeopardise his chances of emulating his father and brother's achievement of winning an All Ireland medal.

Speculation has raged over Kennelly's future in recent months and his signing is a boost for the Swans after they missed out on the finals last year.

The dashing defender played a pivotal role in Sydney making back-to-back grand final appearances in 2005 and 2006 and his experience will be welcome at the Swans following the departure of a raft of veterans.

"We finalised everything today," Swans coach Paul Roos told Fairfax.

"We had a feeling that he might have been going to come back but until we heard definite, you never know.

"And it was hard with him over the other side of the world, and with it being very difficult to get in contact directly with him.

"I had a discussion with him a couple of weeks ago, and since then we've been dealing with Michael (Quinlan, his manager).

"We've been waiting to see whether he is absolutely, definitely going to come, and we found out tonight, and he'll be here next week."

Kennelly has played 158 games for the Swans.

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