Mbappé Exits Nike for On in Landmark Football Deal
Kylian Mbappé has ended a 26-year relationship with Nike to sign with Swiss performance brand On. The move represents On's most significant athlete signing in football to date and positions the star as creative partner in developing the brand's inaugural football boot collection, slated for 2027.
By Marcus Chen
The End of a [Nike](https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-7999207-17049705?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nike.com) Era
The partnership between Kylian Mbappé and Nike closes a chapter that began when the athlete was eight years old. Over nearly three decades, Nike equipped him through his rise to global prominence, crafting several player-exclusive Mercurial editions tailored to his playing style. The 2019 Mercurial Superfly 7 "Bondy Dreams" marked a watershed moment—at the time, it made Mbappé the youngest player to receive his own signature Nike football boot. Subsequent exclusive releases followed, cementing his status within Nike's football roster.
Speculation about a potential split had circulated for some time before the move materialized, but the official transition to On now signals a genuine shift in football's sponsorship landscape.
On's Strategic Football Expansion
The Mbappé signing arrives amid On's accelerated push into organized football. Earlier in 2025, the brand appointed Thierry Henry—a figure whose technical credibility and stature in the sport carry considerable weight—as Director of Football. That same year, Swiss midfielder Sydney Schertenleib became On's first active professional football player signing. Mbappé's arrival represents the culmination of that strategy: not merely an athlete wearing the brand, but a creative stakeholder in product development.
Design Partnership and Boot Development
Unlike traditional athlete endorsements, Mbappé's role extends into On's design and engineering operations. He will collaborate directly with the brand's technical teams as they develop the company's first purpose-built football boots, currently scheduled to arrive in 2027. This collaborative model echoes a shift in how premium brands approach athlete partnerships—positioning stars as product architects rather than passive endorsers.
On's approach to boot construction differentiates itself through LightSpray technology, a proprietary manufacturing process that forms the upper using sprayed filament rather than relying exclusively on conventional materials. The method aims to achieve weight reduction while granting On precise control over upper geometry and performance characteristics.
What Mbappé Wears Now
The timeline creates a practical question: what will Mbappé wear during matches in the interim, while On's first competition-ready boots undergo development and certification? That detail remains unconfirmed. His immediate kit will likely come from On's existing athletic offerings, but the brand has not yet detailed how it plans to bridge the gap between now and the 2027 football boot launch.
Beyond football, Mbappé's contract includes global representation duties for On outside sport—expanding his visibility across the brand's broader performance and lifestyle portfolio.
FAQs
When will On release its first football boots?
On is targeting 2027 for the debut of its inaugural football boot collection. Mbappé is expected to serve as a key collaborator in their design and a primary face of the launch.
What is LightSpray technology?
LightSpray is On's proprietary manufacturing process that sprays filament to form the boot upper, allowing for lighter weight and greater design control compared to traditional construction methods.
Is Mbappé signed to wear On in matches immediately?
No. While Mbappé has officially joined On, the brand's first competition-ready football boots will not be available until 2027. His immediate match footwear arrangement remains unclear.
Nike under retail
Browse Nike items priced below retail on StockX
Release Info
On Football Boots (Mbappé Collaboration)
Expected Launch: 2027
Status: In development
Retail Price: TBD
Where to Buy: Availability to be confirmed closer to release date
