Many One Directioners were devastated last week when band member Zayn Malik officially announced that he's leaving the popular boy group. However,The Sun says that the 22-year-old has already signed a recording deal with Simon Cowell's Syco Music, the same label that signed One Direction in 2010, and his first album is looking at a 2016 launch date.

However, Malik told the newspaper that he wouldn't be rushing things. He wants to try out some new sounds and maybe even some rapping.

"I'm just going to chill man," he said, "I'm just going to be me for a while."

It looks like Malik is wasting no time with his new solo career as he was seen at the London recording studio this weekend.

An insider told The Sun that Zayn is now the most sought after solo artist in the world. "There's a huge excitement as he's the first member who will be able to release on their own," the insider said.

"Simon was very understanding about him leaving the band but quickly made it clear he would stay a Syco artist for his future projects," the insider added.

Fans are not sure how to take this news yet. Throughout various social media sites, some fans are encouraged Malik to pursue his solo career while other are outraged, saying it's far too soon to move on from the beloved One Direction.

"I feel like I'm doing what's right - right by myself and right by the boys, so I feel good," Malik told The Sun this week.

He added, "You know, I did try to do something that I wasn't happy doing for a while, for the sake of maybe other people's happiness. And that was mainly the fans. And I only ever tried to do it for the fans, and it was only ever for them."