Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has ended his long-standing partnership with Nike and signed with Swiss sportswear company On, becoming the leading face of the brand’s first move into football footwear.
The deal marks a significant expansion for On, which has built its reputation primarily through premium running shoes before extending its presence into tennis and other sports.
Tennis legend Roger Federer became one of the company’s most prominent partners in 2019 through a deal that included an equity stake. Other athletes associated with On include American tennis player Ben Shelton, who reached the US Open final.
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However, On’s entry into football represents one of the most ambitious developments in the company’s relatively short history.
As part of its football expansion, the Swiss company has also brought in former France and Arsenal forward Thierry Henry as its Director of Football. Henry has reportedly been working with On in the role since 2025 and was involved in discussions that helped persuade Mbappé to join the company after his Nike contract expired this summer.
Mbappé’s decision means he has turned down established football footwear giants including Adidas and Puma, as well as Nike, to become the face of an emerging challenger in the market.
The financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed. However, The Athletic reports that Mbappé has received an equity stake in On. The company declined to comment on the financial terms.
In announcing the partnership on Friday, On said Mbappé would play a central role in its development of football products and its wider ambitions in the sport.
According to the company, the French star will work alongside its product teams, providing his experience and feedback during the design and testing of future football boots and apparel.
Mbappé will also serve as a global ambassador for On, with the partnership extending beyond football to areas including performance, movement and contemporary design.
Mbappé said the opportunity to help create something new was a major attraction.
“From the beginning, what drew me to On was the opportunity to build something entirely new together that will help shape tomorrow’s game,” he said.
The France captain added that he wanted to contribute his experience to the development process, explore new possibilities through innovation and maintain the enjoyment associated with football.
Mbappé is also expected to feature wearing On boots in EA Sports FC 2027, with the game scheduled for worldwide release on September 25.
On has simultaneously expanded its relationship with Swiss international and Barcelona player Sydney Schertenleib. She initially joined the company in December 2025 as an ambassador for its training and lifestyle range but will now also contribute to the development of its football boots.
On founder David Allemann told The Athletic that the company expects its football boots to reach retail stores in 2027 and said they would occupy the premium end of the market.
The company is also targeting the women’s football market as it prepares for next summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. Mbappé, meanwhile, is expected to begin appearing on the pitch in On footwear in the coming weeks.
Mbappé’s End of an Era With Nike
Mbappé’s switch represents a major change after almost two decades with Nike.
The French forward first joined the American sportswear giant in 2006 at the age of nine and remained one of the company’s most prominent football athletes throughout his rise to global stardom.
Nike had invested heavily in Mbappé as part of a strategy that focused on a smaller group of elite football stars, alongside figures such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland.
In a statement to The Athletic, Nike acknowledged the long relationship and praised Mbappé’s contribution to the brand.
“Kylian’s journey with Nike began when he was nine years old,” the company said, adding that they were proud of what they had achieved together and wished him success in the next stage of his career.
Mbappé’s move to On also reflects a broader shift in the relationship between elite athletes and sportswear companies, with some athletes seeking greater involvement in product development and, in certain cases, ownership.
For On, signing one of football’s most recognisable players provides an opportunity to establish itself in a market dominated by long-established brands.
On founder Allemann said the company did not want its football entry to simply replicate what existing sportswear companies were already doing.
He said On wanted to introduce new ideas, challenge conventional approaches and use innovation and contemporary design to establish itself as a future-focused brand in football.
On’s Rapid Rise
Founded in Switzerland in 2010, On has experienced rapid growth since initially developing its reputation in running footwear.
The company became particularly prominent after partnering with Roger Federer, who became an investor and shareholder in 2019. The relationship helped raise On’s profile significantly beyond its original running-focused audience.
On subsequently went public in 2021 through an initial public offering that raised approximately $746 million.
The company has continued to position itself as a premium sportswear brand while expanding into an increasingly competitive global market.
Its 2025 financial results showed net sales of £2.73 billion, representing a 30 per cent increase from the previous year. The company has also stated its ambition to build what it describes as the world’s most premium global sportswear brand.
Football is now the latest major area of expansion, and the decision to make Mbappé the face of the company’s football operation signals the scale of On’s ambitions.
Just as Federer helped the company establish itself in new markets, On will hope that Mbappé’s global profile can help introduce its football products to a much wider audience.
