Nicola Roberts has reportedly signed a solo record deal with Universal.

According to the News of the World, the Girls Aloud star was offered a “mega-bucks” contract with the company and has already recorded the majority of her debut album, which is expected to be released next year.

A source said: “Everyone’s so excited about Nicola releasing her own album.

“She’s very quietly been recording in the studio for the last few months. She’s working with some great people and coming up with some great stuff.

“She’s being guided by a lot of people who have been involved with Girls Aloud in the past so it’s going to be a great record.”

The report adds that Roberts’s solo plans have made a Girls Aloud reunion even more unlikely, as her fellow bandmates work on separate projects.

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