In Zurich, beside the Limmat, Kylian Mbappé has chosen a new road for the next decade. The France captain has ended a 20-year association with Nike to join Swiss brand On, becoming the central sporting figure in its move into football.
Mbappé signed a 10-year agreement with On after his Nike deal expired, rejecting strong interest from the American giant. Nike had offered terms reported to be worth €20 million per year, comparable to the company’s arrangement with basketball star LeBron James.
The Real Madrid forward presented the project on Monday at On’s headquarters, one day after Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Atlético. He was due to join the first France training camp of the Zidane era shortly afterwards. On co-founder and co-president David Allemann was present, alongside Thierry Henry, who has been appointed the company’s football director.
Mbappé wants a role in building the project
On was founded in 2010 and established itself first in running before expanding into tennis and fitness. It now employs 2,500 people, but football remains a new frontier for the company.
That was the attraction for Mbappé, who said he initially hesitated after spending his whole life with Nike. But discussions over On’s plan changed his mind.
“When On first approached me, I had doubts because Nike had been part of my life for so long,” Mbappé said. “But I wanted to listen. Once I understood the project, I felt I had to take this chance and be part of writing that story.”
The 27-year-old said he is at a stage of his career where he wants fresh challenges and greater creative input. His partnership will include work on product development, with Mbappé contributing his knowledge of the game and the demands placed on a player’s equipment.
“I have always taken things step by step,” he said. “Now I want to experience something different and push myself. This gives me the chance to help create products, to express my creativity and combine my understanding of football with On’s technology.”
Henry joins the football launch
Henry has also been brought into the project at its formative stage. The former France striker will help recruit further ambassadors, while working closely with the company on the creation of its football range.
He acknowledged that Mbappé’s decision to sign with a brand without a football history carries an element of risk, but argued that it is a calculated one.
“The reward is in taking a risk. If you do not shoot, you do not score,” Henry said. “But this is a measured risk. On has already shown what it can do in running, tennis, fitness and in street culture. We want to make that same impact in football.”
For Henry, the difference lies in the direct involvement of players. He said football boots must respond to a range of precise concerns, from ball feel and stopping after a sprint to foot movement inside the boot and discomfort during turning movements.
“A boot is a player’s main tool,” he said. “Having Kylian’s experience, my own experience and the people at On working together should help us make the right product.”
Boot launch planned for 2027
On’s initial football products are still being developed and are not expected to go on sale until 2027. The company intends to use its LightSpray technology, which creates a lightweight upper around the foot in a process involving a robotic arm.
Allemann said the production method can make a boot in three minutes and is designed to cut unnecessary material. He accepted that On has no football past, but insisted the company’s focus has always been on innovation and future development.
Mbappé has already trained in prototype On boots but has not worn them in an official match. He was still playing in altered Nike boots without visible branding during Sunday’s game.
He said his On boots will appear soon, although the final product is still being completed. Rather than unveiling them without warning, Mbappé wants supporters to see the development process behind the new equipment.
Equity stake gives Mbappé a long-term place
Mbappé will also become a shareholder in On, following a model previously used when Roger Federer joined the company in 2019. The forward said the equity element was not the decisive factor in his choice, but described the entrepreneurial dimension as important.
On is making its move into football with Mbappé as its flagship name, in the way Nike once used Michael Jordan to transform its position in basketball. The possibility of a future Mbappé sub-brand within On has not been ruled out.
“Football and life have taught me never to close the door on anything,” Mbappé said. “But my priority now is to make On a major brand in football. The rest can come later.”
Henry, however, played down immediate comparisons with Nike, Adidas and Puma. On’s objective, he said, is not to claim it can outperform football’s established equipment giants at once, but to develop its own identity and improve steadily.
“We are focused on our own project,” Henry said. “In football, the most important competition is often against yourself.”
