Kylian Mbappé Leaves Nike for 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 steps into professional football.

The Real Madrid forward had worn the Swoosh since he was eight. He grew from academy prodigy to global superstar under Nike’s banner, standing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinícius Jr as one of the faces of the Mercurial line and of the brand’s modern football era. For almost two decades, his rise and Nike’s marketing machine moved in lockstep.

That era is over.

Mbappé’s contract with Nike expired on July 31, but the separation wasn’t immediately clear. The France captain kept appearing in Nike campaigns, and the company continued to push his image across its channels, fuelling speculation over whether a renewal might still emerge. Instead, he has chosen a different path – and a different kind of project.

“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.”

On is best known for its distinctive running shoes, a brand that built its reputation on performance tech and a clean, minimalist aesthetic rather than the noise of football culture. Now it is moving aggressively into new territory. In 2019, tennis great Roger Federer joined as an investor and strategic partner, later developing his own signature line and becoming one of the company’s defining figures.

Mbappé is following a familiar trail. Federer also cut ties with Nike before aligning with On, trading an established endorsement for a more collaborative role and equity stake. The Swiss icon became proof that a top-tier athlete could help shape a brand rather than simply front it.

Nike had invested in Mbappé from the start, backing him through his academy years, his explosion at Monaco, the superstar turn at Paris Saint-Germain, and his move to Madrid. Along the way, he received his own signature boots and bespoke designs, a level of treatment reserved for the company’s highest earners and most marketable names, in the mould of Ronaldo.

Walking away from that after almost two decades is not just a contract change. It closes one of the defining partnerships of modern football marketing and opens a very different chapter.

For On, signing Mbappé is an unmistakable statement that its move into football will not be tentative. For Mbappé, it means more than a new logo on his boots: he is expected to have a direct hand in shaping and designing the brand’s upcoming football collection.

The Swoosh is gone. The next wave of Mbappé-branded boots will carry a Swiss imprint – and his fingerprints on how the future of the product looks and feels.