MUMBAI: Zayn Malik has signed a record deal with RCA Records, finally putting to rest rumours regarding his impending solo music career. The former One Direction member, who quit the band earlier this year, stated that he wanted to be a “normal 22-year old” as his reason for quitting.

However, the singer took to his Twitter account to announce his new record deal and reveal the real reason behind splitting from the British band.

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 !!

— zaynmalik (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015

Not long after that, he tweeted an image of him signing the deal, which was followed by “#REAL ME” (sic).

With his RCA deal, Malik joins a host of other big names like Justin Timberlake, Mark Ronson and Alicia Keys, who are also signed under the label.

Simon Cowell, who gave One Direction and Malik a platform to pursue their music careers by signing the band to his label- Syco, showed his support for the singer on social media. He wrote on Twitter:

We have been working on this for a while and I am pleased to say congratulations to @Zaynmalik on signing with @RCARecords

— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) July 29, 2015

The music mogul further added that he thought RCA was the perfect label for Malik’s solo career.

Malik, who is said to have worked with producer Naughty Boy soon after splitting from One Direction, has apparently also been working with R&B singer- Frank Ocean’s producer Malay.

More recently, the ‘Night Changes’ singer moved on from artist management company- Modest! Management, which handles One Direction, and has now signed with Turn First Artists, which manages artists like Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora.

According to Billboard, the singer will be managed by the company's Sarah Stennett, the same person responsible for Iggy Azalea's career. However, the singer has yet to confirm the news.