Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé has officially ended his nearly twenty-year relationship with Nike, signing a landmark partnership with Swiss sportswear brand On Holding as the company prepares its major entry into professional football.
The departure closes a defining chapter in football marketing. During his rise through Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid, the French international developed into one of Nike’s most prominent global ambassadors alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinicius Jr, serving as the primary face of the Mercurial boot line.
Stepping into a New Venture with On Holding
Uncertainty surrounding the forward’s future persisted for months as he continued to appear in Nike promotions while commercial channels maintained references to him. However, the player has now confirmed his switch to On Holding in an official announcement.
“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 stated. “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.”
The partnership positions the Real Madrid striker to play a direct role in designing and developing On’s upcoming football collection, culminating in the brand’s anticipated 2027 football-boot launch. Federer similarly ended a long-standing partnership with Nike to collaborate with On, eventually becoming an investor, strategic partner, and shareholder following his November 2019 agreement with the firm.
Challenging the Industry Giants
While On Holding built its core business around running footwear, the Swiss brand is now expanding aggressively into new sports. Securing Mbappé as a marquee signing marks a major escalation in its strategy to challenge established industry heavyweights Nike, Adidas, and Puma in the world’s most popular sport.
Throughout his time with Nike, the French forward received exclusive boots bearing his own name, an elite tier of treatment typically reserved for top earners like Ronaldo.
What Comes Next
On Holding, meanwhile, will lean on the forward’s global profile as the company accelerates product development ahead of its official 2027 professional football boot launch.
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