The Saturdays have confirmed that they have inked a US record deal.

The British girl group are teaming up with Island Def Jam and Mercury Records to release an album next year.

Their first release will be a single in January 2013, with the band also in the process of trying to secure a reality TV series deal.

Speaking to Billboard about breaking America, Frankie Sandford said:

"We were so afraid. We didn't want to leave England. Nowadays, luckily, [English] people are a lot more open to their favourite acts going to America. It used to be a little bit like, 'They're leaving us! They're going to the US and they're never coming back!' People seem a little more accepting of that now."

Her bandmate Una Healy said The Saturdays feel the time is right for US success, adding: "We feel like the time is now for pop music coming from the UK and Ireland, but there's never been a girl band coming from there since The Spice Girls. It's time for us."