Toby Sibbick has returned to Hearts on a permanent transfer.
The defender enjoyed a loan spell from Barnsley back in 2020 and has now moved to Tynecastle full-time.
He leaves the Tykes to pen a deal until 2025 in the capital.
Sibbick becomes manager Robbie Neilson 's third capture of the window following the arrivals of Nathaniel Atkinson and Ellis Simms.
He impressed during an admittedly short spell in Gorgie two years ago, shortly before the season was curtailed due to Covid-19.
The arrival of a centre-back will inevitably fuel speculation that John Souttar could be off to Rangers this month.
Souttar has already agreed a pre-contract to move to Ibrox in the summer but an offer from the Premiership champions to take him in January has already been rejected by Hearts.
The Jambos have stood firm amid their own ambitions to secure European football next season.
Either way, Neilson is confident he has a "talented and versatile" defender on his hands in Sibbick.
He said: “I’m delighted to get Toby in on a permanent deal.
“He’s someone we’ve been aware of for a while and he obviously has past links to the club. By all accounts he made a really good impression last time round and was unfortunate that bad luck stopped him from going on to show what he could do.
“We’re getting a talented and versatile player who’s had even more experience at a high level down south, so hopefully we can reap the benefits of that.”
