Kylian Mbappé Swaps Nike for On, Boosting Brand's Football Push

WHO:

Yahoo Finance - Kylian Mbappé's contract with Nike expired after seven years.

Yahoo Finance - Roger Federer took a 3% stake in On in 2019 after ending a 24-year partnership with Nike in 2018.

Yahoo Finance - Thierry Henry was named the company's director of football for On after working with the brand since 2025.

Daily Mail Sports - Kylian Mbappé is a Real Madrid striker.

IJR - Kylian Mbappé has left Nike for On, a Swiss sportswear company.

WHAT:

Yahoo Finance - On has roughly 300 partnerships with various athletes, including tennis star Iga Swiatek and two-time Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri.

Yahoo Finance - A new line co-created with Zendaya launched in April 2026 and sold out, with 60% of customers being women under 34 years old.

Yahoo Finance - On signed Kylian Mbappé after his contract with Nike expired this past summer, beating out competitors such as Adidas and Under Armor for the partnership.

Yahoo Finance - The size of the deal between On and Mbappé was not disclosed.

Fast Company - Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden stated that the company has seen growing sales and strong profits after a tumultuous period, crediting the turnaround to eliminating "no-sayers" from the decision-making process.

Fast Company - Adidas's board extended Bjørn Gulden's contract through 2030, citing "tremendous operational and financial progress in a challenging environment."

Daily Mail Sports - Kylian Mbappé is set to become the face of On as they expand into football boot manufacturing.

Daily Mail Sports - Mbappé has ended his long-term partnership with Nike.

Sportskeeda - Mbappé is set to become the face of On as they prepare to enter the football market.

IJR - The first football boots from On are planned for 2027.

WHERE:

Daily Mail Sports - The partnership with On is based in Switzerland.

WHEN:

Fast Company - Reports emerged in January 2025 that Adidas would cut up to 500 jobs at its headquarters in Bavaria, Germany.

IJR - The deal with Nike dated back to 2006.

WHY:

Yahoo Finance - The partnership with Mbappé is viewed as a direct challenge to Nike and Adidas, which have a near-monopoly in the soccer category.

Fast Company - Gulden emphasized the need to allow "the good people breathe" and to let the most energetic and innovative individuals make decisions within the company.

IJR - Mbappé stated that football "led me to one of the biggest changes in my life."

HOW:

Yahoo Finance - On's strategy includes including athletes in product development to create products that meet their demands.

Yahoo Finance - On prides itself on including its athletes in product development, seeking their input to create products that meet athletes' demands.

Daily Mail Sports - Thierry Henry played a role in convincing Mbappé to switch to On while operating in a secret role.

Kylian Mbappé's contract with Nike has officially expired after seven years, marking a significant change in his endorsement landscape. Meanwhile, Roger Federer, who took a 3% stake in On in 2019 after ending a long partnership with Nike, is part of a brand that boasts around 300 partnerships with various athletes, including tennis star Iga Swiatek and two-time Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri. On's innovative approach involves collaborating with athletes in product development, which has led to successful launches like a new line co-created with Zendaya that sold out shortly after its release in April 2026, with 60% of customers being women under 34 years old.