New Dad Liam Payne Planning To Launch Solo Career In May - Report

Liam Payne will be the final member of One Direction to launch his solo career, as he's reportedly set to drop his debut single this May (17).

The 23-year-old singer has been hard at work on his first solo album for the past few months, but the recent birth of his first child, a son, with girlfriend Cheryl, has distracted somewhat from his musical career.

However, it has now been claimed that Liam could be set to release his first offering as soon as May.

“He should have a new single out in May,” an insider told the New York Post's gossip column Page Six.

He will follow in the footsteps of his former One Direction bandmates Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, who have already enjoyed success as solo artists, while Harry Styles is gearing up to drop his debut the first listen of his solo offering Sign of the Times on Friday 7 April. The long-haired singer was seen filming the video for the track while suspended in the air from a helicopter.

The most successful former One Direction star to go solo is Zayn Malik, who left the group in 2015. Since then, he has enjoyed massive hits with tracks including Pillowtalk, Like I Would and I Don't Wanna Live Forever, his collaboration with Taylor Swift.

“Liam will be the last one (member of 1D to go solo)," the insider added.

Liam has reportedly been working all hours in Los Angeles to get as much work done on his solo album completed before the arrival of his baby, who was born on 22 March (17).

"It's not ideal right now but it will mean he’s completely free to dote on mom and baby when the time quickly comes, but it’s fair to say he’s already completely knackered due to this schedule," a source told UK newspaper The Sun of the singer's commitment to completing his solo effort. "People at the studio only see him at night and he locks himself away from 9pm until 4 or 5 in the morning, only taking an occasional cigarette break.”