Liam Payne will reunite with One Direction

Liam Payne’s sister says he will return to One Direction.

The 22-year-old singer announced yesterday (07.21.16) that he had signed a solo record deal, leading fans to fear the band is over for good.

However, Liam’s sister Ruth took to Twitter to insist the group – also made up of Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson – will get back together.

She wrote: "So happy for liam,im biased but hes so talented it would have been a shame for him not to release music for 2 years! (sic)"

After signing his deal with Capitol Records, Liam insisted One Direction will always be his "family".

Liam – who is dating Cheryl Fernandez-Versini – said in a statement: "I’m really happy to have signed to such a prestigious label as Capitol Records UK. Capitol Records has an amazing history stretching right back before even Frank Sinatra and I’m really looking forward to becoming part of their story.

"One Direction will always be my family; I’m now excited to show what I can do as a solo artist."

Since One Direction went on hiatus last year, Liam’s bandmate Harry is currently filming his first movie role in ‘Dunkirk’ and is rumoured to have agreed an $110 million solo deal with Colombia Records.

Niall has launched a golf talent agency but fuelled speculation he is working on new music when he was spotted at a recording studio earlier this month, while Louis – who is living in the US to be close to his former lover Briana Jungwirth and their baby son Freddie – has been a guest judge on ‘America’s Got Talent’.

Former 1D member Zayn Malik released his debut solo record, ‘Mind of Mine’, in March.