Morrissey will release a new album later this year.

The singer has signed a new, worldwide record deal with Universal Music’s US-based Harvest Records. In a statement, he said he was “thrilled” to sign the contract.

Harvest’s joint general managers Piero Giramonti and Jacqueline Saturn confirmed Morrissey’s first album under the deal will be released in the second half of 2014, and that he is starting work on what will be his 10th solo album, the follow-up to 2009’s Years Of Refusal, later this month in France with producer Joe Chiccarelli.

Joining Morrissey in France will be his longtime recording and touring band, including Boz Boorer (guitar), Jesse Tobias (guitar), Solomon Walker (bass), Matthew Walker (drums) and Gustavo Manzur (keyboards). Tour dates for 2014 are also expected to be announced soon.

Capitol Music Group Chairman and CEO Steve Barnett said: “Morrissey is clearly one of music’s most important and influential artists. He is the rare soul who has stayed consistently true to his artistic vision and ethical principles since he first exploded onto the scene in the 1980s. We are so happy that he has chosen Capitol Music Group as his home and that his forthcoming album on Harvest will bring new Morrissey music to the world.”

CMG Executive Vice President Michelle Jubelirer added: “Morrissey is a truly singular artist whose music and live performances first captured a worldwide audience 30 years ago and never let go. He is uncompromising in his integrity, extremely devoted to his fans and an artist with a unique and needed voice in our culture. It’s so great that Morrissey is with CMG, and, more important, that he is about to record his first new album in five years.”

Jesse Tobias recently revealed to Uncut that Morrissey had “two albums’ worth of songs ready.

“I’ve heard almost everything and feel it’s some of the strongest material to date,” he told Uncut. “Musically diverse. Anthemic. Even in their infant stages the songs excite me.”

Last week, Morrissey stated in a blog post: “The actuality is that radio stations will not play my music, and the majority of people have lost faith in the music industry, and it’s generally assumed – quite rightly – that the number one chart positions are ‘bought’ by the major labels, so there really is no passion left in pop or rock music, and I don’t think people believe for an instant that the faces we constantly see on television and in magazines are remotely popular.”