In a significant shift for the global sportswear landscape, France international captain Kylian Mbappe has officially parted ways with Nike. The Real Madrid forward, who maintained a relationship with the American giant since his youth in 2006, is transitioning to the Swiss label On. The firm formally confirmed this alliance on Friday, positioning it as the central pillar of their strategic entry into the football apparel market.
Strategic leadership and market entry
To support this high-profile move, On has appointed French football icon and 1998 World Cup winner Thierry Henry as their new football director. The company, which established itself in 2010 with a heavy focus on professional running and tennis gear, plans to debut its inaugural line of football-specific footwear next year. The brand counts tennis legend Roger Federer as a key shareholder; Federer previously mirrored this career path, leaving Nike to partner with the Zurich-based organization.
Ambitions for the partnership
- The company issued a formal statement declaring, “Today, Swiss sportswear brand On announces its entry into football alongside football champion Kylian Mbappe, marking the beginning of the brand’s journey into the world’s biggest sport.”
- Regarding his motivation to join the team, Mbappe stated, “From the beginning, what drew me to On was the opportunity to build something entirely new together that will help shape tomorrow’s game.”
- Expanding on his vision, the forward added, “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.”
While financial terms of the agreement remain confidential, the impact on Nike is expected to be profound. As the world’s leading sportswear manufacturer, Nike had centered much of its football marketing around the 2018 World Cup winner, who had essentially become the successor to Cristiano Ronaldo as the primary face of their brand. At 41, Ronaldo’s playing days are waning, making Mbappe’s departure a notable vacancy in their athlete portfolio.
This transition follows a broader trend of shifting allegiances among elite players. Notably, Spanish star Lamine Yamal defected from Nike to Adidas in 2024 following his World Cup success. Despite losing Mbappe, Nike continues to represent several top-tier talents, including Vinicius Junior and Erling Haaland. For Mbappe, the move represents a chance to redefine his commercial identity by focusing on creative innovation rather than simply serving as an established endorser for a legacy athletic supplier. The report also notes that succeeding Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 41 is ap, the 2018 World Cup winner and all-time leading scorer in the tournament’s history with 22 goals had gradually emerged as Nike’s foremost football ambassador.
