One Direction have confirmed what fans already thought: Zayn Malik left the group to focus on his relationship with fiancee Perrie Edwards.

The singer shocked fans when he announced his departure from the boyband in March, in the middle of their On The Road world tour, saying he wanted to be “a normal 22-year-old”.

One Direction at the Royal Variety Performance
One Direction including Zayn Malik (Yui Mok/PA)

Zayn’s former bandmate Liam Payne told Capital FM presenters Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon: “He had to do what he had to do really, for himself.

“It’s like any other job really. Sometimes you have to move on because you’re not enjoying what you’re doing as much as you used to.

“He wanted to spend time with his family and his missus. That’s cool with us.”

Zayn’s exit from the group came after he was linked to other women while in Thailand.

Since Zayn left the band, Little Mix singer Perrie has shared photographs of them together on holiday in the south of France. The couple got engaged in August 2013.

Liam said the group understand Zayn’s decision, and are still “great mates”.

“We’re just going to carry on doing what we’re doing,” he continued.

“We wish him all the best with whatever he goes into and stuff. We’ll just have to see what happens.”