Kylian Mbappé Signs Groundbreaking Deal with On Football Boots
Kylian Mbappé has walked away from a 20-year relationship with Nike to sign a headline-grabbing boot deal with Swiss upstart On, in one of the most striking shifts in the football boot market for a generation.
The France captain, long one of Nike’s global flagbearers, will not only wear the Zurich brand’s boots – he is becoming a shareholder too, tying his name and future to a company that until now has built its reputation in running and tennis.
Mbappé bets on a newcomer
“From the beginning, what drew me to On was the opportunity to build something entirely new together that will help shape tomorrow’s game,” Mbappé said. “I want to bring my experience and perspective into what we create, push what’s possible through innovation, and always stay true to the joy of football. We have a shared dream, and this is only the beginning.”
On is stepping into football with intent. This week it unveiled its first boots, the Lightspray Prototype, a line that will hit the mass market next year before the brand moves into training kit. The signing of Mbappé turns that launch from a cautious experiment into a full‑blown statement.
The company has already shown it can lure giants. Roger Federer, who also broke from Nike near the end of his playing career, is both an ambassador and a shareholder. Now, with Mbappé on board and equity on the table, On is positioning itself not just as a manufacturer, but as a platform for star athletes to help shape product and brand.
It has also appointed Thierry Henry as its football director, adding another heavyweight French name to the project as it tries to crash a market long locked down by the traditional powers.
A rare defeat for Nike
For Nike, Mbappé’s exit at the end of his contract after the World Cup lands as a clear blow. He has been one of the central faces of Nike Football, fronting major advertising campaigns and carrying the swoosh at the very top of the international and club game.
“Kylian’s journey with Nike began when he was nine years old,” the company said in a statement. “Over nearly two decades, we’ve shared moments that shaped the game and he has been an important part of Nike Football. We are proud of what we achieved together on and off the pitch.”
The departure follows another high‑profile loss in Lamine Yamal, with the Barcelona and Spain prodigy switching to Adidas two years ago. For a brand that has grown used to winning the biggest battles for talent, losing one generational star and seeing another join a challenger will sting.
Taking on a duopoly
Nike and Adidas still tower over the boot market. At this summer’s World Cup, more than 40% of players wore one of the two, according to data from retailer Fútbol Emotion. Puma sits a distant third, with around 10%.
Plenty have tried to break that grip. Under Armour, New Balance and Skechers – whose boots are worn by England captain Harry Kane – have all pushed to carve out space, with limited impact at retail level.
That is the scale of the task facing On. But Mbappé, Henry and Federer on the same masthead changes the conversation. A brand once known mainly to runners is suddenly on the feet – and in the boardroom – of some of the most influential figures in modern sport.
The boots are only just out as prototypes. The real test comes next year, when Lightspray hits the shelves and the company’s football vision moves from glossy announcement to weekly scrutiny on muddy pitches and global screens.
