Gerhard Struber has left Barnsley to become head coach of New York Red Bulls after the Major League Soccer side paid a "significant" fee to trigger his release clause.

The 43-year-old earned praise for masterminding Barnsley's escape from relegation last season, but his side had taken just one point from their first four matches in the Championship this term.

Struber, appointed last November, recently questioned the ambition of Barnsley's owners after it emerged a formal approach for his services had come in from the United States.

And the Austrian's move Stateside was announced on the Red Bulls' official website on Tuesday, with an undisclosed sum - reported to be in the region of $2.36million (£1.82m) - being paid to Barnsley.

"I am looking forward to getting to know my new team, hopefully very soon," said Struber, who is awaiting the receipt of his United States work visa.

"We want to pursue very ambitious goals together and develop steadily. The challenge of working in MLS makes me proud and gives me massive motivation for a big opportunity."

Struber, who worked in various roles with Red Bull-backed Salzburg for a decade, becomes the first Championship manager to leave his position in the 2020-21 campaign.

A statement from Barnsley read: "Whilst the club are extremely disappointed to be losing Struber, the New York Red Bulls have met a significant contractual release clause after several European clubs expressed interest.

"Gerhard's close ties to the Red Bull family made the decision for him in the end."