Shocking Switch: Kylian Mbappé Drops Nike, Partners With On & Thierry Henry
- Historic Switch: Kylian Mbappé officially ends his 20-year relationship with Nike to join Swiss brand On as a global partner and equity co-creator.
- Collaby Score: 10/10
- Star-Studded Leadership: Arsenal legend Thierry Henry joins as Director of Football alongside FC Barcelona’s Sydney Schertenleib.
- Developing On’s first-ever football boots using automated spray-on LightSpray upper technology at On Labs in Zurich.
- Pitch Debut: First prototype boots are expected to debut on-pitch with Real Madrid in October, ahead of a retail launch in 2027.
The football boot world just got a major shake-up.
Kylian Mbappé is leaving Nike after nearly two decades and joining Swiss sportswear brand On, becoming the face of the company's move into football. The partnership brings one of the biggest names in the sport into a completely new chapter and On isn't treating Mbappé like a normal sponsored athlete.
Instead, the idea is to have Mbappé involved in creating and refining the products themselves.
On has officially launched its football division, bringing together Mbappé, former France star Thierry Henry and footballer Sydney Schertenleib as part of its product-development vision. The company says the trio will use their experience to challenge, improve and refine its future football products.
On Shop
And the technology behind it is already interesting.
Nearly 20 Years of Mbappé × Nike
Mbappé's relationship with Nike started when he was just nine years old.
That partnership followed him from his early football career through Monaco, his emergence with France and eventually his rise to becoming one of the world's biggest football stars.
Nike's Mercurial became closely connected with Mbappé's image.
His most important moment came at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where the 19-year-old Mbappé helped France win the tournament.
Over the following years, Nike continued building Mbappé's identity around the Mercurial line, including multiple personalised and signature-inspired releases.
Nike's Mbappé boots even looked back at different stages of his career. One Mercurial Vapor 16 Academy edition, for example, references his 2018 “Rising Fire” boot, his Bondy Dreams design and other previous player editions.
That makes the Nike relationship much bigger than simply putting a Swoosh on his boots.
Mbappé became part of Mercurial culture.
From World Cup Winner to Two-Time Golden Boot Winner
Mbappé's Nike era also covered one of the most successful periods of his football career.
He won the 2018 World Cup with France.
Then came the incredible 2022 World Cup final, where he scored a hat-trick against Argentina despite France eventually losing on penalties.
Four years later, Mbappé added another major individual achievement.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he scored 10 goals and won the adidas Golden Boot, becoming the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice. FIFA also records him as the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals after the 2026 competition.
- So Mbappé isn't leaving Nike at the beginning of his story.
- He's leaving after reaching another huge point in his career.
The Swiss company is best known for running footwear and has also expanded into tennis through its relationship with Roger Federer.
Football is a completely different challenge.
Nike, adidas and Puma have dominated the modern football boot market for years, making On's decision to enter the category with Mbappé one of the most interesting sportswear moves of 2026.
LightSpray Comes to Football
This is where the collaboration becomes really interesting from a sneaker and technology perspective.
On plans to bring its LightSpray technology from running into football.
The technology uses robotic manufacturing to create the upper of a shoe from a continuous filament, helping produce a lightweight construction with fewer traditional manufacturing steps.
On says it is now applying LightSpray to football boots designed for both the men's and women's game, with a focus on a close-to-the-ball, barefoot-like feel.
That gives Mbappé something different from another signature Mercurial.
He's joining a company that is effectively building its football product category around him.
Mbappé × Thierry Henry × On
The Thierry Henry connection makes the project even more interesting.Henry has joined On as its Director of Football, bringing experience from one of football's most successful generations.
Mbappé Is Also Becoming Part of On
The partnership reportedly isn't structured as a straightforward endorsement deal.
Reuters reports that the agreement includes cash and equity components, although the financial terms have not been disclosed.
Reuters
That is significant because it gives the relationship a deeper business dimension.
It also follows the model On has developed around Roger Federer, who became an investor and worked with the company on product development.
With Mbappé, On is attempting to build something similar around football.
Not just:“Wear our boots.”But:“Help us build our boots.”
The First On Football Boots
On is expected to make its first football boots widely available in 2027, following the development and testing phase around its new football technology.
That means fans aren't simply getting another Mbappé signature colourway immediately.
The bigger story is what comes next.
The first generation of On football boots will effectively introduce the brand to an entirely new sport.
And Mbappé will be right at the centre of that launch.
Why This Is Bigger Than a Boot Switch
Mbappé leaving Nike would already be major news.
But Mbappé joining On while helping build its football division makes the move much more interesting.
For Nike, it ends a relationship that began when Mbappé was a child.
For On, it provides an immediate connection with one of football's biggest global stars as the company enters one of the most competitive sportswear categories in the world.
Reuters
And for football boot culture, it means there is now another serious name entering the conversation.
For almost two decades, the Nike Swoosh and Mercurial became part of Mbappé's football identity.
From his teenage years to Monaco.
From the 2018 World Cup to the 2022 final.
From signature Mercurial designs to his 2026 Golden Boot.
Now that chapter is finished.
The next one is going to look very different.
Mbappé × On isn't simply another athlete collaboration. It's the beginning of On Football.