Zayn Malik has reportedly rejoined One Direction, ten years after his sensational departure from the world-famous boyband.
The singer, who left the group in 2015 to pursue a solo career, is said to have rekindled his friendship with former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan following the death of Liam Payne last year. Relations between the members had grown strained over the years, but sources now suggest that Liam’s passing has prompted them to reconnect.
According to reports, Zayn has once again been listed as a business director of PPM Music Limited, the company originally set up by the band during their meteoric rise to fame after The X Factor. Records at Companies House indicate that Zayn, whose previous role was terminated in June 2016, has officially rejoined the firm alongside Harry, Louis and Niall.
A source told The Sun:
“While heartbreaking, Liam’s passing has brought them closer together. It’s even more poignant because he had always been the biggest advocate for a reunion. Since his death, the boys have been back in touch.”
Liam Payne tragically died in October last year at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. His funeral marked the first time in years that all four surviving members had been seen together publicly.
PPM Music Limited takes its name from Princess Park Manor, the luxury gated residence where the band first lived after finding fame in 2010. Business manager Alan McEvoy, who has previously worked with One Direction, Olly Murs and JLS, remains involved with the company.
Rumours of a One Direction reunion have intensified in recent months, particularly after it emerged that Zayn and Louis have signed a multi-million-pound deal for a forthcoming Netflix project. The series will reportedly see the pair travel across the United States, reflecting on their shared memories and discussing the highs and lows of life in one of the most successful bands of all time. Insiders claim the show will also touch upon Liam’s death and the emotional journey that followed.
An industry source added:
“This will be a massive global event for Netflix and is certain to send One Direction’s fans into a frenzy. Beyond nostalgia, it’s expected to explore how fame, friendship and grief have shaped who they are today.”
Zayn, who has lived in the United States since 2018, is preparing for his first-ever Las Vegas residency in January. Earlier this year, he publicly thanked Louis after the latter attended his concert in Los Angeles — a gesture fans hailed as a sign of renewed friendship.
Despite years of distance and disagreements, the group’s shared history remains extraordinary. Formed on The X Factor in 2010, One Direction went on to sell more than 70 million records worldwide and win nearly 200 major awards, including seven Brit Awards, six Billboard Music Awards and seven American Music Awards.
With Zayn’s return, fans around the world are daring to believe that one of pop music’s most iconic reunions may finally be on the horizon.