In a statement, the chart-topping group said:
“It has been the most incredible journey over the last 6 years and we have achieved more things than we could have ever dreamed possible.”
'We are currently in the studio working on what will be our last album'
“Thanks to all of you guys, your support, your dedication and your love, you have changed our lives forever and we wouldn't be where we are today without you.”
Speaking about their final movements, they added:
“We are currently in the studio working on what will be our last album – Goodbye, The Greatest Hits.”
“We will be bringing you a new single later in the year to coincide with the album and the tour. Goodbye; The Greatest Hits Tour will be the last time that we will perform together as a 4 and we want to make sure that this tour is the best ever and that we end on a high!”
The foursome first found fame after entering the X Factor in 2009, and came second to Alexandra Burke.
'Goodbye; The Greatest Hits Tour will be the last time that we will perform together as a 4'
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Since then the British heartthrobs have enjoyed chart success, with their debut album selling over one million copies in the UK, as well as five No.1 singles, an award for British Breakthrough, Best Newcomers, five MOBO awards and title of the UK's hardest-working band for two constitutive years.
Speaking to a British newspaper about their shock decision, 28-year-old Marvin Humes, who is expecting his first child with The Saturdays singer Rochelle, explained:
“We never wanted to overstay our welcome. We never wanted to be that band where people said, ‘Oh, bloody hell. It’s JLS again.
'We never wanted to overstay our welcome'
“We wanted to finish on a high. We’re finishing with an arena tour — our third arena tour — and that is a massive achievement.
“The last five or so years have been nothing short of incredible. It has been an incredible journey.”
Fans took to Twitter to voice their upset, with one distraught JLSter writing:
“I CAN’T BREATHE, WORST DAY EVER”.
Others took a more humorous approach to the news, with one joker, Mr Love Bucket, tweeting:
“So JLS are going to split. Hope the same can’t be said about their condoms.”