Superstar soccer star Kylian Mbappé has ended his long-term relationship with Nike and signed a deal with Swiss brand On.
The Real Madrid forward has been sponsored by Nike since childhood, but will now join On to trial the brand’s cleats and apparel. French football legend Thierry Henry will take over as the brand’s football director after working with the company from the end of 2025.
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“What drew me to On from the beginning was the opportunity to build something completely new together that will help shape the game of tomorrow,” Mbappé said in a statement. “I want to bring my experience and perspective to what we create, push the possible through innovation and always stay true to the joy of football. We have a shared dream and this is just the beginning.”
Mbappe is the latest athlete to leave Nike, joining Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, tennis star Emma Raducanu and Barcelona and Spain standout Lamine Yamal.
In 2010, tennis icon Roger Federer began manufacturing running shoes before becoming a co-owner of the company in 2019. His list of athletes includes:
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US Open finalist Ben Shelton
Six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Švitek
According to The Athletic, On’s soccer cleats will be launched as “premium” products in 2027, with the company targeting the female market ahead of next summer’s Women’s World Cup. Mbappe is expected to debut his new sneakers in the next few weeks.