Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards move on from One Direction drama by splashing out on £3m mansion

Former One Direction star Zayn Malik has reportedly purchased a £3m ($4.6m) mansion with his fiancé Perrie Edwards.

Despite fans calling for him to end their engagement with the less-than-pleasant hashtag, #CANCELYOURENGAGEMENTZAYN, the Sun reports that the 22-year-old singer has decided to put down roots with the Little Mix star.

"This is a big statement by Perrie and Zayn," a source told the publication. "They've had to shoot down rumours of a split after his exit from the band and this is both of them showing everyone just how serious they are. They're engaged and need somewhere they can both call home - and this house is it."

The six-bedroom, five-bathroom property is said to be located just outside London and was previously lived in by a well-known Premier League soccer star.

The insider added that their new home, which is split into two wings and features a three-bedroom guest cottage, is a safe haven from their hectic lives and "has got everything they need"

"Zayn has a bit more time on his hands than he used to, so this is a good place to be for him to hang out with mates or just spend some time alone," the source told the Sun. "Plus it is just half an hour or so from London so Zayn won't be going into exile just yet."

Bradford-born Malik quit the British boyband on 25 March, claiming that he had grown tired of the limelight and wanted to feel like a "normal 22-year-old".

Following his shock exit, heartbroken Directioners accused his partner of persuading him to quit the group, slamming her as "the new Yoko Ono", in reference to the widow of the late John Lennon, who was infamously blamed for breaking up the Beatles.

But Edwards recently set the record straight, telling The Sun's Fabulous magazine that it was solely his decision to walk away.

"People have said 'did I do this, did I do that?' No matter what decision he made, I was always going to support him," she told the publication. "If he'd wanted to stay, I would have supported him just the same as I have done since he's left... If he's happy then I'm happy."