Mbappé ends lifelong Nike deal to become the face of Swiss brand On's football push

Kylian Mbappé has ended his long-standing partnership with Nike to join Swiss sportswear brand On, the company confirmed on Friday, marking a significant shift for one of football’s most marketable players and a landmark moment for a brand best known for running shoes and tennis products.

Mbappé has been sponsored by Nike since childhood, making the split a notable departure. On, founded in 2010 by former Swiss ironman champion Olivier Bernhard, has been building toward a football push for some time and views the Real Madrid forward as central to that ambition. The brand plans to launch its first football boots in 2026, with kit manufacturing targeted further down the line.

According to a statement released by On, Mbappé will be “at the heart of On’s football journey, uniting one of football’s defining players with one of sportswear’s most innovative brands.” He will work directly with On’s product teams, contributing to the development and testing of future football footwear and apparel, and will serve as a global ambassador extending into movement, performance, and design.

The arrangement mirrors On’s existing relationship with Roger Federer, who became an investor in the brand in 2019 and collaborated on its tennis product line. Mbappé is expected to take a similarly hands-on role in shaping the football range.

On has also appointed fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry as its director of football, signalling that the company’s move into the sport is structural rather than purely marketing-driven. The brand has developed a proprietary ‘LightSpray’ technology — produced using robotics — which it hopes will differentiate its products from the entrenched offerings of Nike and Adidas.

Breaking into football’s boot market is a well-documented challenge. Under Armour and Skechers have both attempted to chip away at the Nike-Adidas duopoly in recent years with limited success. On, however, is arriving with a higher profile signing than either managed at the outset. Whether Mbappé’s involvement can translate into genuine market share will become clearer once the boots reach consumers next year.