West Ham youngster Reece Oxford has returned to the Bundesliga, joining Augsburg on loan for the remainder of the campaign, according to BBC Sport.
The 20-year-old previously spent two spells in the German top flight when he played for Borussia Monchengladbach for much of the previous campaign.
The defender is the Hammers’ youngest ever player, but despite making his debut four years ago, he has struggled to break into the first team set up, and has regularly been linked with loan moves away.
Despite making eight appearances while with Monchengladbach, the England youngster has been restricted to just a couple of outings in the Checkatrade Trophy since returning to the London Stadium.
Earlier this month, Nottingham Forest and Eintracht Frankfurt were understood to be looking to secure his services, but no deal was done, and it looked like he might spent the rest of the season in the West Ham under-21 side.
The Hammers management were believed to have turned down a loan move from Eredivisie outfit Heerenveen for the defender on Wednesday, but now they have allowed Oxford to leave for Germany.
Augsburg beat the German transfer deadline by 20 minutes to complete the signing, and the youngster could go straight into their squad for the match against Mainz on Sunday afternoon.
Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping that the academy product uses his time away to gain more experience, with the aim of pushing for a place in his plans for next season upon his return.
Oxford is contracted at the London Stadium until the summer of 2020, so time is beginning to run out in his bid to force his way into the landscape with the Hammers.