Ananova:

George Michael has signed a new deal with the record company he tried to "divorce" in a long legal battle, it was announced today.

He has teamed up with Sony in a big money global deal which is also understood to include sales of his back catalogue.

Michael took the firm to court to free him of his old deal in a mammoth court case which began in 1993 and lasted months.

He had been unhappy about his long-standing contract but his legal bid failed. Record companies Virgin and Dreamworks subsequently bought him out of that deal in 1995.

Sony Music UK confirmed tonight that it had signed a new worldwide record deal with the singer.

Michael, 40, is currently recording Patience, his first album of original material since the 1996 album Older, said Sony.

It will be released in early 2004.

Rob Stringer, Sony Music UK's chairman and chief executive, said: "We are delighted to be working again with one of the greatest recording artists this country has ever produced, who has produced another classic album.

"In a career spanning more than 20 years, George has been responsible for nearly 75 million record sales."

Sony would not put any figures on the financial side of the deal but said it included back catalogue material.