One Direction Latest News: Zayn Malik Quits, Wants to Live Like a 'Normal 22-Year-Old'

What started as a time-out of sorts has become permanent. Zayn Malik has left One Direction, his band of five years, saying he wants to live like a "normal 22-year-old."

Malik did not join the band's concerts in the Philippines last weekend (March 21-22) returning back to the U.K. from Hong Kong, citing stress. Fans were still hoping he would be able to get back on his feet and rejoin the band for the rest of the tour. Now, the news is final. He has left the band for good.

In an official statement to Sky News, Simon Jones, One Direction publicist, said the remaining members of the band – Nial (Horan), Harry (Styles), Liam (Payne) and Louis (Tomlinson) – "will continue as a four-piece and look forward to the forthcoming concerts of their world tour and recording their fifth album, due to be released later this year."

In the group's Facebook page, Malik posted the following: "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band."

"I'd like to apologize to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart."

"I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world."

The remaining members of One Direction said they were really sad to see Zayn go but that they respect his decisions and send him all their love for the future. "The past five years have been beyond amazing, we've gone through so much together, so we will always be friends," One Direction said in a statement.

"The four of us will now continue. We're looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour," the statement added.

Simon Cowell, who discovered the band in "The X Factor," thanked Zayn for everything he has done for One Direction. "Since I first met Zayn in 2010, I have grown very, very fond – and immensely proud – of him. I have seen him grow in confidence and I am truly sorry to see him leave. As for One Direction, fans can rest assured that Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are hugely excited about the future of the band," Cowell said.

Niall, Liam, Harry, Louis and Zayn signed with Cowell's Syco Records in 2010 after finishing third on "The X Factor," the competition where they were brought together by Simon as a band for the first time. They had auditioned individually and separately. Simon was the one who put them all together and called them "One Direction."