French soccer star Kylian Mbappé has ended his two-decade-long partnership with Nike and signed with Swiss sportswear brand On, delivering a significant blow to the American company as newer rivals gain ground in the athletic footwear market. According to Yahoo Sports, the 27-year-old Real Madrid forward agreed to join On after his Nike contract expired this summer.
Kylian Mbappé Leaves Nike to Join Swiss Brand On
The move concludes a relationship between the France national team captain and Nike that dates back to 2006. The departure comes on the heels of Nike losing recent World Cup winner Lamine Yamal of Spain to Adidas. Nike had increasingly leaned on Mbappé as one of the sport’s leading global ambassadors following the later stages of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career, with Mbappé remaining a centerpiece of Nike’s football marketing at the FIFA World Cup and receiving signature editions of its Mercurial boots.
A Hands-On Role in On’s Football Expansion
Mbappé’s transition to On marks a cornerstone of the Swiss company’s upcoming entry into the football footwear market. Sportstar reported that On plans to launch its first football boots in 2027.
Financial details of the agreement remain undisclosed, but the arrangement includes an equity stake in the Swiss company, providing Mbappé with an interest beyond a conventional sponsorship.
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, according to Yahoo Sports. 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.
He will work directly with On's product teams, integrating his elite perspective into the development and testing of future football footwear and apparel. He will also become a global ambassador for On, extending the partnership beyond football into movement, performance and contemporary design. In a
The Influence of Thierry Henry and Corporate Context
Former France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry played a key role in helping On secure Mbappé’s signature. Henry joined On as its Director of Football, a position he held privately since 2025 before the company’s official announcement, and worked behind the scenes to persuade Mbappé to make the switch once his Nike contract expired.
Founded in 2010, On previously made headlines in 2019 when tennis legend Roger Federer joined the company as an investor after leaving Nike. Alongside Mbappé, On has also secured the signature of Barcelona women’s team midfielder Sydney Joy Schertenleib.
On’s U.S.-listed shares rose 5% in premarket trading following the announcement. The Roger Federer-backed company has been looking for growth in the Americas, a region that accounts for more than half of its revenue. While On has focused on full-price sales, it has faced struggles in the region amid choppy economic spending.
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