Mbappé ends 20-year Nike partnership to join Roger Federer's On alongside Thierry Henry

Kylian Mbappé has terminated his long-standing partnership with Nike to sign with On, the Swiss sportswear brand co-founded by Roger Federer, with the Real Madrid forward expected to front the company’s first-ever football boot launch in 2027.

Thierry Henry arrives at On in the same announcement, taking up the role of director of football at the brand. The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker will help shape the product development process as On makes its formal entry into the football market.

On was founded in 2010 as a running shoe manufacturer and has grown rapidly into a broader performance and lifestyle brand. Its move into football represents one of the most significant challenges to the Nike-Adidas duopoly in years.

“From the beginning, what drew me to On was the opportunity to build something entirely new together that will help shape tomorrow’s game,” Mbappé said. “I want to bring my experience and perspective into what we create, push what’s possible through innovation, and always stay true to the joy of football. We have a shared dream, and this is only the beginning.”

Henry echoed that ambition: “Building something new in football requires a bold and original approach. Over the past year, I’ve seen first-hand the curiosity and attention to detail the team at On brings to that process. We want to listen to players, understand what they need and create something that can genuinely add to the game.”

Nike responded to Mbappé’s departure with a measured statement: “We are proud of what we achieved together on and off the pitch. As he moves into the next phase of his career, we wish him continued success for what comes next.”

The exit compounds a difficult period for Nike in football. Lamine Yamal, the Spain and Barcelona winger who won the 2024 European Championship, recently switched from Nike to Adidas — another high-profile defection from a brand that has long dominated the sport’s boot market.

On co-CEO David Allemann framed the move as a deliberate disruption rather than a conventional sponsorship play. “Football doesn’t need another sportswear brand to do more of the same,” he said. “When we enter a sport, we want to be the brand of the future — through true innovation and contemporary design. With Kylian we have the perfect partner to dream what football can become.”