Zayn Malik was the first of One Direction to release a solo album having quit the band before they went on a break, but it looks like Harry Styles could be following soon.

The singer has signed a deal with Columbia Records, the label that looks after One Direction in the US, Billboard reports.

1D are repped by Syco in the UK - which frequently collaborates with Columbia on other former X Factor and Britain's Got Talent artists including Little Mix, Ella Henderson, Fleur East, Rebecca Ferguson and Susan Boyle.

Terms of Harry's deal aren't known and apparently there's no timeline for a release date of solo material either.

Harry split from 1D's Modest Management back in January, sparking the first rumours of his long-awaited solo career.

Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid has worked with the singer on his solo material and promises it'll "blow the socks off the world".

OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder has also written a couple of songs with Harry, though nobody knows what will actually make the record.