11:00am UK, Tuesday November 18, 2003

George Michael has a signed a new deal with Sony - the record company he sued after saying it treated him like a "slave".

The 40-year-old is to release his next album, Patience, nearly a decade after suing the music giant in a £4m failed court bid to ditch a 15-year contract.

180 george michael headshot

George is returning to Sony

The move has stunned industry insiders, but Sony said it was "fantastic" to have the singer back on board.

The company's vice-president of communications, Gary Farlow, told the Daily Star: "We're very, very proud to have George back.

"What happened in the past happened. It's a different era now."

The former Wham! star is estimated to have spent £28m buying himself out of his earlier deal with Sony, financing the action with a two-album deal with Virgin.

He had argued he needed more artistic freedom and that the company had failed to properly promote his album Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1.

But he is now expected to release his new CD with Sony in March.

Daily Telegraph rock critic Neil McCormick said: "On the surface it looks absurd, but it's not so unusual for artists to go back to companies.

"It does show that if you are an economically viable property you can burn as many bridges as you want."