Will 1D call it quits? Harry Styles signs solo deal with major label

One Direction member, singer Harry Styles has reportedly signed a solo recording contract with Columbia Records, giving rise to further speculations about the future of the superhit boy band.

One Direction member, singer Harry Styles, has reportedly signed a solo recording contract with Columbia Records, giving rise to further speculations about the future of the superhit boy band.

Harry Styles follows in the footsteps of former One Direction band member Zayn Malik to test the waters of a solo career. (Shutterstock)

Styles, who joined the roster of Full Stop Management back in March and began registering solo songs with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers last year, has been making moves to separate himself from One Direction for some time now, but the record deal could be the final straw.

Read: After Nolan’s Dunkirk, Harry Styles to play Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger?

Read: Leaked: Harry Styles is a WW2 soldier in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk

Reps for Styles have offered no official comment on the news as yet, according to Billboard.

Styles is not the first member of One Direction to test the waters of a solo career — former band member Zayn Malik caused controversy when he left the group in March 2015, and Refinery29 recently reported that Niall Horan has also been working with songwriter Wayne Hector on some personal music.

One Direction has been on hiatus since early 2016.

Follow @htshowbiz for more.