Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe ends Nike partnership to join Swiss brand On
France captain Kylian Mbappe has signed with Swiss sportswear firm On, ending a long-standing sponsorship relationship with Nike. On said the move coincides with its expansion into football and named Thierry Henry as its football director as it prepares to launch its first football boots next year.
Why It Matters
Mbappe's switch removes a premier football ambassador from Nike and gives On a high-profile entry point into the global football market. The deal signals intensified competition among sportswear brands for elite player partnerships as On diversifies beyond running and tennis.
Key Facts
- Player: Kylian Mbappe
- New brand: On (Swiss sportswear)
- Previous partner: Nike (association since 2006)
- On's football director: Thierry Henry
- On's planned product launch: First football boots next year
Swiss sportswear company On confirmed that France captain Kylian Mbappe has signed with the brand, ending his long-running relationship with Nike. The announcement frames Mbappe's arrival as the start of On's strategic move into football, a market the company has not previously focused on. On did not disclose financial details of the contract.
As part of its football push, On named 1998 World Cup winner Thierry Henry as its football director. The firm, founded in 2010 and known mainly for running and tennis footwear, said it will debut its first football boots next year. Roger Federer, who also left Nike late in his career, is among On's shareholders.
Mbappe had been affiliated with Nike since early in his career and had become one of the company's principal football ambassadors. His departure represents a loss for Nike, which continues to hold sponsorships with several leading footballers. The move follows other recent high-profile footwear switches in the sport, such as Spain's Lamine Yamal moving from Nike to Adidas in 2024.
On presented Mbappe's signing as a collaborative opportunity to build new football products and influence the game's future. The company did not provide specifics on the length or monetary terms of Mbappe's agreement, and Nike did not comment in the statements cited by On.
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