Zayn Malik Quits One Direction: 'Night Changes' Band to Continue as Four-Piece for Tour, New Album 2015

After plenty of speculation from fans, the inevitable has come true: Zayn Malik has officially left One Direction. The band announced the news today (March 25) in a lengthy Facebook posts with statements from 1D, Simon Cowell and Malik himself.

"After five incredible years Zayn Malik has decided to leave One Direction. Niall, Harry, Liam and Louis will continue as a four-piece and look forward to the forthcoming concerts of their world tour and recording their fifth album, due to be released later this year," the band wrote.

After leaving the One The Road Again Tour last week due to "stress" and cheating rumors surrounding himself and his fiancée Perrie Edwards, Malik's future with One Direction was uncertain, with sources close to the band saying he had struggled the most with success.

Malik doesn't cite bad blood between himself and his bandmates, but instead, the desire to be a normal 22-year-old guy, which he also echoed in a statement on Twitter last week, where he wrote: "I'm 22 years old... I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there's a lot of jealous fucks in this world I'm sorry for what it looks like x."

"My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world," he said.

Read the band's full statement below:

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Zayn Malik, One Direction