Kylian Mbappé Signs Landmark Deal with On Holding

Kylian Mbappé has drawn a bold line under nearly 20 years with Nike, walking away from the American giant to sign a landmark deal with Swiss brand On Holding as it steps into professional football.

The Real Madrid forward had been with Nike since he was eight. He grew from academy prodigy to global superstar under its banner, standing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinícius Júnior as one of the faces of the Mercurial line and the company’s worldwide marketing machine.

Now he’s changing lanes.

On, a company built on running culture and performance tech, is pushing hard into new territory. It has already brought tennis great Roger Federer on board as an investor and strategic partner, a move announced in November 2019 that signalled serious intent. Mbappé is the next pillar in that expansion – and the headline act for its entry into elite football.

The break with Nike became official when his contract expired on July 31. For weeks, the situation felt stuck in limbo: Mbappé still appeared in Nike campaigns, the brand continued to push his image across its channels, and no one publicly confirmed the next step. That silence has gone.

“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 in the official announcement.

“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.”

There is a clear template for this kind of move. Federer also walked away from a long-running Nike relationship to join forces with On, then went beyond standard endorsement to become a shareholder and front his own signature product line. Mbappé’s decision follows that same path: not just wearing the boots, but helping shape the brand.

Nike’s role in his rise is impossible to ignore. From his early academy years to his breakout at Monaco, his superstardom at Paris Saint-Germain and his arrival at Madrid, the Swoosh backed him at every stage. He received his own exclusive boots, personalised with his name, the kind of treatment reserved for the very top tier of earners like Ronaldo.

Ending that partnership after almost two decades closes one of the defining relationships in modern football marketing. It also opens a new phase in which Mbappé is not simply a sponsored athlete but a driving force behind On’s first football collection, with a direct hand in design and development.

The boots he wears next won’t just carry his name. They’ll carry his fingerprints.