ADELE is to sign a £90 million record deal — the biggest ever handed to a British musician.

The 28-year-old Skyfall singer’s Sony Music contract tops the £80 million EMI paid Robbie Williams in 2002, The Sun reports.

It is also the most valuable for a woman, eclipsing Whitney Houston’s £70 million from Arista in 2001.

Thesinger — who is set to sign the giant Sony Music contract in the coming weeks — is already worth £85 million, according to this year’s Sunday Times Rich List.

But that will rocket when the Grammy-winner puts pen to paper.

A source at Sony said last night: “We have secured the biggest music star in a generation. This is massive.

“Adele’s deal with her original label XL expired and we’d an existing relationship with her in America.

“The deal is being worked on by our Columbia label in the US, but is worth £90 million and gives Sony the rights to release her future music exclusively around the world.”

The scale of the deal for 28-year-old Adele, from Tottenham, North London, is remarkable in an era when piracy and streaming services have diminished album sales.

It is part of a growing war between music giants Sony and Universal.

Earlier this month The Sun told how Sony had poached Robbie Williams from Universal, despite his band Take That being signed to the label. A senior music industry insider said: “The industry’s been through massive changes in recent years.

“A handful of big-name acts like Adele, Coldplay, 1D and Ed Sheeran have been keeping it in business.

“That’s why these deals are so important. Having an artist like Adele on the books will make a big difference to Sony over the next decade.”

Adele’s deal was negotiated by her manager Jonathan Dickens.

The music source said: “Jonathan’s been putting it together for a couple of years. He was very aware of her worth in the market and stood firm to push for the £90 million.”

Last night Sony declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for Adele.

Adele became Britain’s richest female musician after making £35 million last year.

She has sold more than 10 million copies of her debut album 19 and 30 million of her second album, 21. Her third, 25, was another huge hit.

In addition to her new mega deal, her fortune will soar this year thanks to earnings from her sellout 105-date arena tour.

Adele has invested millions into a property portfolio which includes pads in London and LA.

She recently showed off a rented Sussex home on a US TV show.

Top ten record deals of all time

1. Michael Jackson — £164 million with Sony in 2010

2. U2 — £130 million with Polydor in 1993

3. Jay Z — £95 million with Live Nation in 2008

4. Robbie Williams — £80 million with EMI in 2002

5. Bruce Springsteen — £75 million with Columbia in 2005

6. Whitney Houston — £70 million with Arista in 2001

7. Madonna — £64 million with Live Nation in 2007

8. REM — £50 million with Warner Bros in 1996

9. Mariah Carey — £50 million with Virgin in 2001

10. Sir Elton John — £42 million with Polygram in 1996

This article originally appeared in The Sun and is republished with permission.