Real Madrid and France superstar Kylian Mbappe has officially ended his two-decade-long relationship with Nike to sign a landmark 10-year partnership with Swiss sportswear brand On.
Mbappe, who had been aligned with Nike since 2006, turns the page on one of football’s most lucrative brand relationships to anchor On’s ambitious foray into the soccer market.
Equity, cash and football innovation
The agreement is far more than a standard boot deal. Following in the footsteps of tennis legend Roger Federer – an early investor and backer of On – Mbappe has been granted equity shares alongside a competitive cash structure.
“What drew me to On was the opportunity to build something entirely new together that will help shape tomorrow’s game,” Mbappe expressed following the announcement.
Developing boots for 2027
On is actively expanding into elite soccer, eyeing the launch of its inaugural football boot line set for release in 2027. To lead this strategic push, the brand has also named French legend Thierry Henry as its Director of Football.
Together, Mbappe and Henry will collaborate closely with product engineers to design and test elite match gear utilizing On’s proprietary performance technology.
A strategic blow for Nike
For Nike, Mbappe departure represents another major setback in player endorsements, coming shortly after Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal signed with Adidas.
Nike issued a statement wishing Mbappe continued success, acknowledging their historic journey together. Meanwhile, shares in On rose in response to the massive endorsement deal, cementing the Swiss label’s status as a rising power in global sports.
