Leona Lewis has signed a deal with Def Jam Recordings.

The 30-year-old singer revealed she is now a part of the label's roster in America by posting a photo of herself wearing a Def Jam jacket on Instagram.

Darcus Beese - the president of Island Records, who signed her in the UK and which Def Jam owns - confirmed the news, revealing the label is planning to be ''as ambitious'' as they can with her.

Darcus said: (Leona's) voice was enough reason to do the deal. We're going to be as ambitious as we can (with her). She's on Def Jam in America and they are very passionate about the record as well. We are internationally ambitious for the record, but I know that (the work) very much starts here in our own back garden.''

Leona left Simon Cowell's Syco record label in June last year, following an apparent dispute over the musical direction of her new material.

Darcus insists Leona has ''matured as an artist'' and needed to break away from her former 'X Factor' mentor.

Speaking to Music Week magazine, he said: ''If the US has some semblance of success, then we can start joining the dots globally. It's important that people feel that Leona has moved on and matured as an artist with something to say. Now it's about making sure that what we have is relevant and exciting to people. That's the foundations of our success going forward.''

The 'Run' singer will release her fifth studio album 'I Am' later this year, and the first single taken from the album, 'Fire (Under My Feet)', is due out next month.