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 launches into professional football.

The Real Madrid forward had worn the Swoosh since he was eight. He rose through the ranks as one of Nike’s headline stars, sharing top billing with Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinícius Jr and fronting the Mercurial line that defined his acceleration and flair on the pitch. For a long time, he wasn’t just wearing Nike boots; he was one of the faces that sold them.

Now he’s switching camps.

On Holding, a company built on running technology and lifestyle performance gear, has lured one of the sport’s biggest names as it accelerates into new territory. The Swiss firm has already signalled its ambition by bringing in Roger Federer as an investor and strategic partner in November 2019. With Mbappé on board, it is no longer just testing the water in football. It is diving straight in.

This move had been brewing in the background. Mbappé’s contract with Nike expired on July 31, yet his image kept appearing in their campaigns, his name still attached to marketing pushes and social media content. The uncertainty lingered: stay with the familiar global powerhouse or step into something less established but more personal?

He has given his answer.

“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 blueprint here. Federer also broke from Nike after a long, lucrative relationship to join forces with On, eventually becoming a shareholder and fronting his own signature product line. The Swiss tennis icon helped transform the brand’s visibility in racket sports and lifestyle markets. Mbappé is now positioned to do the same in football.

Nike’s fingerprints are all over Mbappé’s rise. From academy pitches to Monaco, through his explosion at Paris Saint-Germain and now the glare of Madrid, the company backed him relentlessly. He received his own signature boots, special colourways and tailored campaigns, treatment usually reserved for the very top tier of earners like Ronaldo.

Ending that relationship after almost two decades closes a major chapter in modern football marketing. It also opens a new one in which Mbappé is not just the poster boy but a central architect. At On, he is expected to play a direct role in shaping and designing the brand’s first full football collection.

The boots he wears next will say as much about where the sport is heading as they do about the player lacing them up.