Nabil Luqman

0f9d2dd4f71434084e2b6094de1865e23abb37bb9f28ca51feeabee679ec9be2

Social

Nike

competition

football

contract

sportswear

Kylian Mbappé

boots

In football, only a handful of sportswear brands dominate the market. Nike and Adidas remain the biggest names, while Puma, Mizuno and ASICS also have established positions in football footwear.
Now, a familiar name from the running world is looking to enter the conversation.
Swiss sportswear brand On has officially moved into football, bringing Real Madrid and France star Kylian Mbapp&eacute; with it.
The 27-year-old has ended his roughly 20-year partnership with Nike to become a global partner of On, while also helping develop the brand&rsquo;s upcoming football products. The move marks a major expansion for On as it targets one of the most competitive areas of the sportswear industry.
On Is Bringing Its Running Technology Into Football
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/021a8e3a22bbb9f2818603cd08d1365982433d578695ad8358351aa690bc8391" />
Founded in Switzerland in 2010, On built its reputation through running shoes and its distinctive cushioning technology before expanding into sports including tennis.
One of its best-known technologies is CloudTec, while its newer LightSpray manufacturing process is expected to play a key role in its football ambitions. LightSpray uses robotics to create a shoe&rsquo;s upper from a continuous filament, allowing On to produce lightweight footwear with a streamlined construction.
The company is expected to launch its first football boots commercially in 2027, with Mbapp&eacute; involved in testing and developing the products. He will work directly with On&rsquo;s product teams on future football footwear and apparel, rather than simply serving as the face of the brand.
On has also appointed French football legend Thierry Henry as its Director of Football, while FC Barcelona player Sydney Schertenleib is involved in its football development.
From Roger Federer To Kylian Mbapp&eacute;
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/eb4fcc71b0f5fe68f9cbc27127ba75ca94f4b6661fdc39390768c6ee84ebe125" />
Although On is new to football, the brand has already established partnerships with major sporting names.
Its most notable relationship is arguably with Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer, who became an investor in On in 2019 after leaving Nike. Federer has since worked with the company on product development and helped expand its presence in tennis.
That relationship provides an interesting blueprint for On&rsquo;s partnership with Mbapp&eacute;.
Rather than simply endorsing an existing football boot, Mbapp&eacute; will have a role in shaping the products themselves, giving On access to an elite player&rsquo;s perspective as it develops its first generation of football footwear.
Mbapp&eacute; Leaves Nike After Nearly Two Decades
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/bf6afc6b4c4bb6acb23c10661f9ad8b9167bd5e522cee3658d0c1f9871b5e8e6" />
The biggest headline, however, is not simply that On is entering football. It is who the brand has signed to lead the charge.
Mbapp&eacute; joined Nike as a child and spent roughly two decades with the sportswear giant, becoming one of the most recognisable faces of Nike Football and its Mercurial boots.
That partnership has now ended, with Mbapp&eacute; joining On after his Nike contract expired. The financial details have not been disclosed, although On said the deal includes both cash and equity components, with Mbapp&eacute; also becoming a shareholder in the company.
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/e0eb658f5130a46699bb2e2f5c68c2216fc1955f67a1eff549856d93b8440c67" />
Nike has also lost Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to Adidas, although it continues to work with major footballers including Erling Haaland and Vin&iacute;cius J&uacute;nior. Nike thanked Mbapp&eacute; for their long partnership, saying his journey with the company began when he was nine and that he had played an important role in Nike Football.
For On, meanwhile, signing one of football&rsquo;s biggest stars gives the relatively young brand an instant connection to a global audience.
Can On Challenge Nike And Adidas?
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/545c05f816561addd980a7fdbe248f15e340d3af77f4972181ec5f6cceb9022c" />
Breaking into football will not be easy.
Nike and Adidas have spent decades building relationships with clubs, national teams and individual players, while their boots are deeply embedded in football culture.
Data cited by Reuters shows just how concentrated the football boot market remains, with Nike and Adidas accounting for a large share of professional players&rsquo; boots, while Puma holds a smaller but established position.
On therefore faces the challenge of convincing players to move away from boots and brands they have trusted for years. Mbapp&eacute; provides enormous visibility, but a famous athlete alone does not guarantee success. Previous challengers have struggled to establish a lasting foothold against football&rsquo;s biggest sportswear companies.
On will ultimately need to prove that its football boots can perform at the highest level and appeal to professional and everyday players alike.
What Could On Bring To Football?
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/3944c8e5a9a8ad601eb5db84273a1bc6e2cd0bc981693e8d7a8474652fb6d152" />
On is betting heavily on technology and product innovation.
LightSpray is central to that strategy, offering a different approach to manufacturing football boots while allowing the company to focus on lightweight construction. The brand is also developing boots around a close-to-the-foot feel, with different designs being tested alongside its athlete partners.
Having Mbapp&eacute; involved in the process could help On develop products based on the demands of elite football rather than simply adapting its existing running technology. The first major test will come in 2027, when its football boots are expected to reach the wider market.
Puma, Mizuno And ASICS Remain In The Mix
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/617cd1b8a94b48b3f0264f65e7644471b68676403c0c172e7cf29a19171dd762" />
While On&rsquo;s arrival will draw plenty of attention, the football boot market extends well beyond Nike and Adidas.
Puma remains one of the sport&rsquo;s established brands, with a strong presence among professional players and clubs. Mizuno has also developed a loyal following among players who prefer traditional construction and lightweight boots.
ASICS has maintained its own presence in football footwear, while New Balance and Skechers are among the other brands competing for space in the market.
This gives players plenty of options, but it also makes On&rsquo;s challenge even greater.
The Swiss brand will need to turn the excitement surrounding Mbapp&eacute; into a long-term identity within football, rather than relying solely on the star power of its biggest signing.
A New Chapter For Football Boots
On&rsquo;s move into football could add another layer of competition to an already crowded market.
Nike and Adidas remain dominant, while Puma, Mizuno, ASICS and other brands continue to compete for players and consumers. Now, On is entering the race with new technology, a growing reputation in sportswear and one of football&rsquo;s biggest stars at the centre of its launch.
Mbapp&eacute;&rsquo;s move is therefore about more than changing the logo on his boots. It represents On&rsquo;s attempt to build an entirely new football category around elite performance and product innovation.
With its first football boots expected in 2027, the next few years could reveal whether On can turn its success in running and tennis into a serious presence on the football pitch.
&nbsp;
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media &amp; various cross-references for context.
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Kylian Mbappé x On. ⚽️ The football boot game is about to get a new player.

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Kylian Mbappé Joins On As Swiss Sportswear Brand Enters Football

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Cornetto

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BIllie Eilish UMMY

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Coke Fifa

Kylian Mbappé Joins On As Swiss Sportswear Brand Enters Football

Kylian Mbappé x On. ⚽️ The football boot game is about to get a new player.

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