Kylian Mbappé Leaves Nike for On: A Game-Changing Move in Football Boots
Kylian Mbappé has walked away from a 20-year relationship with Nike to sign a boot deal with Swiss upstart On, in one of the most striking moves the football boot market has seen in years.
The France captain, who joined Nike as a nine-year-old and grew into one of the brand’s global centrepieces, will now help front On’s ambitious push into football. He is not just a face for the campaign either: Mbappé will become a shareholder in the Zurich-based company.
On, best known until now for its running and tennis products, is preparing a full-scale assault on football from next year. The company has already hired Thierry Henry as its football director and this week revealed its first boots, the Lightspray Prototype. The model will be released to the mass market next year, before the brand expands into training wear.
“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.”
The move lands as a heavy blow for Nike. Mbappé, now 27, has long been one of the main faces of its football operation and fronted a string of major advertising campaigns. His departure came at the end of his contract after the World Cup and follows another high-profile loss: Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal switched from Nike to Adidas two years ago.
Nike responded with a statement that underlined the scale of the relationship coming to an end. “Kylian’s journey with Nike began when he was nine years old,” the company said. “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.”
For decades, Nike and Adidas have operated as a duopoly at the top of the football market. At this summer’s World Cup, their boots were worn by more than 40% of players, according to data from retailer Fútbol Emotion, with Puma a distant third at around 10%.
Others have tried to break that grip. Under Armour, New Balance and Skechers – whose boots are used by England captain Harry Kane – have all pushed into the space, but without making a decisive dent at retail level.
On now steps into that arena with two heavyweight names in Mbappé and Roger Federer, the latter already a shareholder after making his own late-career jump from Nike. The question is no longer whether the Swiss brand is serious about football. It’s how quickly this alliance can turn one superstar’s signature into a genuine shift in a market long ruled by two giants.
