Kylian Mbappé has ended his long-standing association with Nike and signed with Swiss sportswear company On, becoming the centrepiece of the brand’s move into football.

On announced the partnership on Friday, 18 September 2026, saying the France captain and Real Madrid forward will work directly with its product teams on the development and testing of future football footwear and apparel.

The agreement represents a major expansion for On, a company best known for running shoes and which has also built a growing presence in tennis. Reuters reported that Mbappé’s deal includes both cash and equity components, while On said he will also serve as a global ambassador beyond football.

Mbappé to help develop On football products

Rather than positioning Mbappé only as the face of an advertising campaign, On says the striker will contribute his experience at elite level to product development. The company plans to apply technologies and design methods already used in its running business to football footwear and apparel.

On said athlete feedback will be central to the development process, with players testing and refining products before they reach the market. Reuters reported that the Swiss company expects to introduce its first football boots in 2027.

Mbappé described the partnership as an opportunity to help build something new and contribute his perspective to future products. His move brings an end to a relationship with Nike that stretched back roughly two decades and began when he was a child.

Thierry Henry takes Director of Football role

On is also bringing Thierry Henry into the project as Director of Football. The former Arsenal and France striker had been working with the company behind the scenes since late 2025 on its entry into the sport, according to On.

His responsibilities are expected to span product direction, athlete relationships and the wider football strategy. Swiss international and Barcelona player Sydney Schertenleib is also involved in the project and will contribute to product development, including work relevant to the women’s game.

The combination gives On a mix of current elite-player input, former-player experience and an emerging women’s football perspective as it attempts to establish itself in a market dominated by long-established sportswear companies.

Why the switch matters to the football business

Mbappé’s decision is notable because elite football boot sponsorships are typically concentrated among a small number of global brands. His profile gives On immediate visibility as it enters the category, while also adding another high-profile athlete to a roster associated with the company’s rapid international growth.

For Nike, the departure removes one of the most recognisable footballers associated with the brand. Reuters described the move as another challenge for the company as newer and expanding rivals compete for athletes and consumers across performance footwear.

On, meanwhile, is trying to translate the product-led strategy it used in running and tennis into football. Its existing LightSpray manufacturing technology, which uses a robotic process to create lightweight footwear uppers, is among the technologies the company says it is adapting for the demands of the sport.

What happens next

Attention will now turn to the products Mbappé helps develop and how quickly On can establish credibility with professional players and ordinary football consumers. The first boots are expected in 2027, according to Reuters, giving the company a relatively short runway to turn Friday’s high-profile announcement into products that can compete on performance as well as marketing.

FlyingEze has recently covered Mbappé’s place in the 2026 Ballon d’Or conversation and Thierry Henry’s assessment of the leading Ballon d’Or contenders . Their new roles in On’s football project now connect two of the most prominent names in French football to one of the sportswear industry’s most closely watched expansions.