Barnsley FC midfielder Marcel Ritzmaier returns to his native Austria

Ritzmaier's exit follows loanee Kilian Ludewig's return to parent club Red Bull Salzburg, with the 20-year-old immediately sent back out on loan to struggling Bundesliga outfit Schalke for the rest of the 2020-21 season.

Ritzmaier, 27, was brought in by head coach Gerhard Struber - whose departure from the club to New York Red Bulls is expected to be confirmed on Tuesday - in January.

The midfielder was Struber's first signing as Reds chief, having previously worked for him at Wolfsberger.

He joined Barnsley for a six-figure fee - signing a deal until the summer of 2022 - with Struber labelling the player as a 'leader with experience'.

Despite making a positive enough impression in his debut in the 2-1 derby win over Huddersfield Town on January 12, Ritzmaier struggled to win over supporters with his performances.

He has made 22 appearances in total for the club.

Ritzmaier's exit followed on from Ludewig's return to the continent.

Speaking about Ludewig's exit, Reds CEO Dane Murphy said: "Killian is a great kid and we wish him nothing but the best in the future.

“Whilst we have quality in this position, with players waiting patiently for an opportunity, we will also look to add further permanent depth before the domestic transfer window closes on 16 October.”