Zayn Malik signs solo record deal with RCA after quitting One Direction

Zayn Malik says he'll reveal the "real me" after announcing he's signed a solo record deal.

The former One Direction singer, who quit earlier this year saying he wanted to be a "normal 22-year-old", posted a picture of himself signing a contract with RCA Records.

He tweeted: "I guess I never explained why I left, it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who i really am! #realmusic #RCA !!"

In a later tweet he wrote: "#REALME".

See Zayn Malik's tweet

Alicia Keys, Mark Ronson, Justin Timberlake and A$AP Rocky are among the acts signed to the label, which is part of Sony Music.

Simon Cowell, who signed One Direction to his label Syco, congratulated Zayn on his new deal.

He tweeted: "We have been working on this for a while and I am pleased to say congratulations to Zayn Malik on signing with RCA Records.

"I believe they are the perfect label for Zayn Malik's solo career and I am sure whatever they release together will be special."

See Simon Cowell's tweet

Frank Ocean's producer Malay recently revealed that he had been working with the singer.

Posting a picture of Zayn with his daughter he wrote: "Benefits of the job. My daughter gets to meet my co-workers, one [of] who happens to be one of her favourites what an amazing soul #zaynmalik."

Since leaving the group, the singer has also spent time in the studio with Naughty Boy.

The producer, whose real name is Shahid Khan, put a track online featuring Malik singing over an acoustic guitar after he quit One Direction.

However, there's been little word on how the collaboration is going since Zayn called the La La La producer "a fat joke" in a series of tweets.

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