Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé has officially ended his two-decade relationship with Nike to join Swiss sportswear brand On as it makes its long-awaited entry into football. The move brings one of the sport’s most recognizable players into a new product-development partnership as On prepares to launch its first football boots in 2027.
The strategic partnership establishes Mbappé as a global brand ambassador and a key figure in On’s expansion into football. The French star will work alongside On’s product engineering teams to test and develop future football footwear and apparel. Furthermore, the Zurich-based company has appointed French football icon Thierry Henry as its Director of Football, giving him a central role in shaping the brand’s strategy, product development, athlete relationships, and approach to the sport.
The move represents a significant expansion for On, which has built its reputation primarily through running before branching further into tennis, training, and lifestyle. Rather than simply placing its logo on an established footballer, the company is positioning Mbappé as a collaborator in the development of its football products.
A Shocking Divorce from Beaverton
For nearly 20 years, the partnership between Mbappé and Nike was a defining part of the French star’s rise. The American sportswear giant signed him in 2006, when he was eight years old and still far from becoming a World Cup champion. Over the years, he became one of the most prominent faces of Nike’s football business, following Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the brand’s central global stars and frequently appearing in custom Mercurial boots.
However, his long-term contract ended following the 2026 World Cup without an extension. Mbappé has now formally moved on, bringing one of Nike’s longest-running relationships with a football superstar to a close. His departure also comes after Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal left Nike for Adidas in 2024, giving the American company another high-profile change within its football roster.
In an official statement reported after the announcement, Nike acknowledged the end of the relationship on a positive note, expressing pride in what the two had achieved together and wishing Mbappé continued success in the next phase of his career. The split arrives as Nike continues its broader effort to revitalize the business under CEO Elliott Hill.
The Swiss Disruptor Strikes Gold
Conversely, On continues to build momentum as it expands beyond its original running-focused identity. Founded in 2010, the Swiss company has grown into a global sportswear business and has increasingly pushed into adjacent categories, including tennis and lifestyle. Its relationship with Roger Federer, who became a shareholder in 2019, helped establish a model built around deeper athlete involvement rather than conventional endorsement alone.
Now, the company is applying that approach to football with one of the sport’s biggest names.
Financial markets responded sharply in the early hours following the announcement. On’s U.S.-listed shares rose 5.6% in premarket trading on Friday, while Nike shares were down slightly in early electronic trading. The initial market reaction underscored the attention surrounding On’s entry into football, although premarket movement does not necessarily indicate how investors ultimately assess the partnership.
On also enters football from a position of considerable recent growth. The company reported CHF 3.014 billion in net sales for 2025, representing a 30% increase from the previous year. That gives the brand considerably more scale than the niche running company it was when it launched.
By securing Mbappé, On gains an immediate connection to elite football. The agreement includes cash and equity components, according to Reuters, although the company has not disclosed the financial terms or the size of Mbappé’s equity interest. The structure echoes the deeper ownership relationship On has developed with Federer, but the exact terms of Mbappé’s arrangement remain private.
Engineering the Future of the Pitch
“Football doesn’t need another sportswear brand to do more of the same,” stated David Allemann, co-founder and co-CEO of On. He emphasized the company’s desire to bring fresh ideas to the sport and challenge established assumptions around football equipment.
To achieve this, On plans to adapt its proprietary LightSpray technology to the demands of football footwear. The automated process uses a robotic arm to spray a continuous thermoplastic filament onto a foot-shaped mold, creating a lightweight upper through a construction method that differs from conventional cutting, stitching, and gluing.
On says the technology can enable a fundamentally different approach to footwear construction, while its football development process will involve elite players working directly with the company’s product teams to test, challenge, and refine future products.
Mbappé will work directly alongside On’s engineering and product teams as the company develops its football range. The first retail football boots are planned for 2027. Until then, Mbappé is expected to test prototypes during competitive matches, giving the company an opportunity to gather feedback from one of the game’s most experienced players while generating interest around the unreleased product.
That arrangement gives the Real Madrid forward an unusually direct role in the development process. Instead of simply wearing a finished product, he will contribute his experience and perspective as On works toward its first commercial football footwear.
Thierry Henry and the New Paradigm
Importantly, On’s move into football has been in development for some time. Thierry Henry had been working behind the scenes with the company since late 2025, contributing to its football strategy and product approach before being formally announced as Director of Football.
The Arsenal and France legend will play a central role in shaping On Football, from product development and athlete relationships to the company’s broader approach to football culture. “Building something new in football requires a bold and original approach,” Henry explained in the company’s announcement, emphasizing the importance of listening directly to players and understanding what they need from their equipment.
The management and development team also includes Sydney Schertenleib, the Swiss international and FC Barcelona player who joined On as an ambassador for training and lifestyle in 2025. She will contribute to the development of products for women’s football, giving the new division a perspective beyond the men’s game.
The broader strategy reflects a shift in how some sports brands are working with elite athletes. Rather than limiting athletes to campaign appearances and product endorsements, On is building a model in which their sporting experience can feed directly into product development. Mbappé’s role places that philosophy at the center of the company’s football debut.
On his personal social media, the superstar forward expressed excitement about the partnership and the opportunity to help shape what comes next. “Surrounded by innovators who dream of the same things I do,” he wrote.
Realigning the Sportswear Landscape
The long-term implications for the broader sportswear ecosystem will be closely watched. Football remains one of the industry’s most competitive categories, dominated by established players such as Nike and Adidas, with Puma, New Balance, and other brands also competing for athletes, clubs, and consumers.
On’s arrival changes the competitive picture by introducing a company with a distinctly different brand identity and manufacturing approach. More importantly, it gives the newcomer an immediate association with Mbappé, who has been one of the defining figures in global football during the past decade.
As the current season progresses, attention will turn to Mbappé’s footwear during Real Madrid’s LaLiga fixtures. He has already scored seven goals in six league appearances this season, including a two-goal performance against Rayo Vallecano on September 12.
His transition from Nike to On will therefore unfold in public, match by match, as fans begin looking for the first signs of the brand’s new football identity on the pitch.
The partnership represents more than a change of footwear sponsor. It gives On a high-profile entry point into football while giving Mbappé a role in developing the products he will eventually wear. Whether that approach can translate the company’s success in running and tennis into football remains to be seen, but its ambitions are now unmistakable.
When to Expect the New Boots
While the partnership is fully official, fans will have to wait to purchase On’s football products. The company has confirmed that its first retail football boots are planned for 2027 as it continues developing and testing the range.
In the meantime, Mbappé is expected to take the field in prototype On boots, including whiteout and blacked-out versions, as development continues. That gives football enthusiasts an early look at the technology long before the commercial launch.
For On, the strategy creates a long runway between announcement and retail. Mbappé can begin introducing the brand to football audiences now, while the company continues refining its first generation of boots away from the demands of a mass-market launch.
Ultimately, this partnership transcends a standard sports sponsorship update. It marks On’s formal arrival in football, places Mbappé inside the product-development process, and introduces LightSpray technology to a sport where footwear is central to performance and identity.
The next chapter will be played out on the pitch—and eventually, on store shelves.
Featured image: @on.running/Instagram
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