Zayn Malik of One Direction will feature as a guest vocalist on the new album by London DJ Naughty Boy, it has been revealed.

The boyband star has forged a friendship with the DJ and has tweeted pictures of them in the studio together in the past few months. They've even begun to refer to themselves collectively as 'Zaughty' and regularly mention their shared Pakistani heritage.

Naughty Boy - whose real name is Shahid Khan - told The Sun that the rumours were true. ""We're making music and having fun," he said. "This is just like a side gig and I don't think there's anything wrong with it. It's a good time for Zayn to showcase what he can really do. I don't think that is being fully exploited with the band because there are five people and it needs to be balanced out."

Khan has previously worked with pop stars including Sam Smith and Emeli Sandé.

Hmmm…. along with his increasingly funky new haircuts, it seems like our prediction from last November about Malik moving on from the whole 'boyband' thing might actually have a foundation.

Be afraid, Directioners. Be very afraid.