We checked this claim: is it true that
Kylian Mbappé parted ways with long-time sponsor Nike to secure equity ownership in Swiss athletic brand On?
On confirmed Mbappé joined as a football headliner under an equity-backed contract that targets boot sales in 2027
Mbappé leaves Nike to sign equity boot deal with On
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé takes an ownership stake in Swiss sportswear brand On after ending a two-decade Nike partnership.
In a nutshell
Kylian Mbappé has left Nike after nearly two decades to take an equity stake in Swiss sportswear maker On, anchoring the brand's push into football boots against legacy giants Nike, Adidas, and Puma. The roughly 10-year contract trades routine promotional checks for corporate co-ownership and direct product development alongside Thierry Henry, targeting an initial commercial release in 2027.
Highlights
- Kylian Mbappé ended a nearly 20-year sponsorship relationship with Nike.
- On granted Mbappé an equity stake and cash in a deal reported to span roughly 10 years.
- Mbappé is co-developing prototypes featuring On's robotic LightSpray upper technology.
- On scheduled the commercial launch of its first football boot for 2027.
- Nike retains its national team kit supply agreement with the French Football Federation through 2034.
From the Editor’s Diary
When top-tier athletes trade flat endorsement salaries for direct equity, sportswear newcomers can neutralize the spending power of entrenched market leaders in a single move.
Who's involved
Kylian Mbappé
French forward for Real Madrid and the France national team
goal → seeks creative design control, custom cleats, and long-term equity growth
On
Swiss running-shoe and sportswear maker backed by tennis icon Roger Federer
goal → seeks rapid credibility and global market share in the football boot business
Nike
US athletic gear manufacturer and Mbappé's sponsor since childhood
goal → sought to keep its leading football ambassador without offering company stock
Thierry Henry
French football legend and On's director of football
goal → seeks to guide technical boot creation and attract world-class players to On
In short
Kylian Mbappé has broken a two-decade tie with sportswear giant Nike to take an ownership stake in Swiss running company On, immediately challenging the football market's entrenched balance of power. The switch gives a fast-growing challenger brand elite credibility in football boots, a global category long controlled by Nike, Adidas, and Puma.
The move makes it likely that other elite athletes will demand direct corporate ownership rather than cash-only promotional checks. That shift is near-certain because Mbappé's contract links his personal wealth directly to the brand's commercial growth over a reported ten-year horizon.
On confirmed that Mbappé will help design and test prototypes built with LightSpray, a manufacturing method that uses robotic arms to spray synthetic fibers into seamless shoe uppers. Mbappé will work alongside former France forward Thierry Henry, who joined On as director of football, with the first commercial boot arriving in shops in 2027.
How it unfolded
On announces entry into football with Kylian Mbappé
Swiss performance sportswear maker On made its first move into football on September 18, 2026, announcing Kylian Mbappé as the lead athlete for its new division. The announcement confirmed the end of Mbappé's 20-year run with Nike, with specialized soccer publications SoccerBible and Sole Retriever verifying the switch after joint statements appeared across social media channels.
Equity terms revealed and product timeline set for 2027
Subsequent reporting exposed why Nike lost the bidding contest despite offering matching base cash: Mbappé chose On because it granted him an equity stake across an estimated 10-year term. Technical preparations escalated as On confirmed Mbappé began testing laced and laceless prototypes alongside Thierry Henry, setting a formal commercial release date of 2027 for its first football cleat.
Where things stand
The partnership between Kylian Mbappé and On is operational, with Mbappé testing prototypes ahead of a 2027 public release. Nike acknowledged the split while keeping its French Football Federation jersey supply contract through 2034.
Total financial values, exact shareholding percentages, and the formal commercial name of the 2027 boot have not been disclosed. The market is now watching when Mbappé will debut match-ready On boots in competitive matches for Real Madrid.