Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé has stepped into a new corner of the football industry, ending a childhood-long association with Nike to become On’s global ambassador and a central figure in the Swiss company’s first move into the game.
The Real Madrid forward’s agreement with On comes after his Nike contract reached its end in 2026. Rather than extending that partnership, Mbappé has chosen a younger brand that will involve him more closely in decisions around football footwear, equipment and the company’s wider direction in the sport.
On, founded in the Swiss Alps in 2010, built its name through running shoes. Its football project is intended to carry its product technology into a sport that has long been dominated by established equipment giants, with Mbappé positioned not simply as the face of the launch but as a contributor to its development.
A role beyond the boots
Mbappé said his attachment to football still comes from the games he played with friends until dark and before dinner, when the sport was simply a game rather than a career. He described joining On as a chance to create something new for football’s next generation while retaining that sense of enjoyment.
“What drew me to On was the opportunity to build something completely new together and help shape tomorrow’s game,” he said. “I want to bring my experience and perspective to what we make, push the boundaries of innovation and remain true to the joy of football. We share a dream, and this is only the beginning.”
The France captain will work directly with On’s product teams, applying his experience from the top level to the testing and design of future football boots and equipment. The company said he would have a key place in its football journey, bringing an understanding of the game supported by an exceptional statistical record.
On plans to use its LightSpray technology in football, with the aim of producing highly precise boots for women and men that fit like a second skin. The brand also intends to collaborate with a tightly selected group of elite players as it develops products around the physical requirements of modern football and seeks to create fresh links with football communities worldwide.
Thierry Henry connection
Mbappé’s move is also linked to Thierry Henry, the former France striker who has been working as On’s director of football since late 2025, initially away from public view.
Henry’s remit includes guiding the strategic development of On Football, from athlete and product relationships to the brand’s approach to football culture and the sport’s future. His presence gives Mbappé a familiar French football reference point inside a company entering the market for the first time.
In the message announcing the partnership, Mbappé framed the relationship around bringing the foot closer to the ball, supporters closer to sport and the wider world closer to the game. For a player whose commercial career has been closely tied to Nike since his youth-team days, the shift marks a substantial change as On prepares to establish itself in football.
