Southend United are delighted to announce Tom Hopper has returned to the club on a permanent deal.
The 31-year-old striker has signed a contract until the summer of 2026, rejoining the Shrimpers five years on from his first spell at Roots Hall.
Hopper signed for Blues in 2018 after three seasons at Scunthorpe United and went on to score seven goals in 14 games, before an ACL injury in the October ended his first season at the club prematurely.
During his second campaign with the club, the striker scored three goals in all competitions before Lincoln City agreed a deal to sign him for an undisclosed fee in January 2020.
On his return, Hopper said: “I’m delighted to be back and I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s a chance to get back enjoying my football at a place where I really did enjoy my football before, and where I played some of my best football.
“When I left it was under a bit of a cloud. I wasn’t going thinking it was amazing to be leaving, I really loved it here. There’s a chance now to try and carry on where I left off and play a part in the upward trajectory of the club, having been here as it was going through a bit of a struggle.”
Hopper spent three years at Lincoln and featured 100 times, including narrowly missing out on promotion to the Championship in 2020/21 with defeat in the League One Play-Off Final.
In 2023, Matt Bloomfield signed him for Colchester United to bring him back to Essex and last season Hopper was a regular for the U’s making 35 appearances in League Two. He also scored three goals in the final five games, playing a crucial role as they narrowly avoided relegation.
This season Hopper has made 23 appearances and also captained the U’s on one occasion.
“I feel physically good, I feel like I’m in a place where I can play to my best and it’s about doing that on a regular basis," Hopper added.
“Having conversations with the management and the staff I feel confident that this group and this management team will allow me to do that.
“It’s all positive noises coming out the club and the opportunity to be part of that was huge. Having been here in the tough times, I’m excited to now be here, and play a part in, getting this club back where it needs to be.”
Hopper takes squad number 21 and is eligible to feature at Roots Hall in a Southend shirt again when we take on AFC Fylde tonight.
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