Kylian Mbappé Leaves Nike for On Holding: A New Era in Football Boots

Kylian Mbappé has drawn a bold line under almost 20 years with Nike and stepped into a new era with Swiss brand On Holding, in a move that could reshape the business of football boots as much as his runs reshape defences.

The Real Madrid forward, who first signed with Nike at the age of eight, has agreed a landmark partnership with On just as the company prepares a serious push into professional football. For nearly two decades he grew from academy prodigy to global superstar under the American giant’s banner, standing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinicius Jr as one of the faces of the Mercurial line and one of Nike’s most visible football ambassadors.

Now he’s walking away.

From Mercurial poster boy to On’s football pioneer

Mbappé’s Nike deal officially expired on July 31, but the break was anything but clean in public. The French international continued to appear in Nike campaigns, and the brand kept him front and centre across its commercial platforms, fuelling uncertainty over whether a renewal might still be on the table.

The answer has arrived. And it’s emphatic.

On, a company built on running technology and lightweight performance gear, is moving aggressively into new sports. The Swiss brand already has a powerful sporting figure at its core: Roger Federer became an investor and strategic partner in November 2019, later lending his name and input to a signature line that helped On move from niche running specialist to mainstream force.

Mbappé is now set to front the brand’s leap into football.

“From the beginning, what drew me to On was the opportunity to build something entirely new together that will help shape tomorrow's game,” he 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.”

Following Federer’s playbook

There is a clear template here. Federer also cut ties with Nike after a long relationship, then aligned himself with On, not just as an endorser but as a partner and shareholder, helping to design and launch his own product line. His move gave On credibility, visibility, and a premium edge in tennis and lifestyle markets.

Mbappé’s decision carries similar weight for football.

Nike backed him from his early academy days, through his breakout at Monaco, his superstardom at Paris Saint-Germain and now his status as Madrid’s marquee forward. Along the way, he joined the elite tier of players granted their own signature boots, his name stitched into the same space as Ronaldo’s on Nike’s most prized shelf.

Cutting that cord after nearly two decades ends one of the defining sponsorship stories of modern football. It also hands Mbappé something he has rarely lacked on the pitch: control.

He is expected to play a direct role in shaping On’s first dedicated football collection, bringing a player at the peak of his powers into the design room rather than simply into the studio for a photoshoot.

Nike loses one of its most marketable modern stars. On gains a global icon just as it steps onto football’s biggest stage. The next question is simple: what will the boots that carry Mbappé into this new chapter look like when he finally laces them up?