TCF POST Report
ZURICH/PARIS, September 18, 2026 — Swiss sportswear challenger On has made a major entry into football with global superstar Kylian Mbappé, ending the French forward’s long-running partnership with Nike and giving the fast-growing performance brand one of the most powerful athlete platforms in world football.
Mbappé confirmed the move on X on Friday, posting photographs of himself wearing On apparel and footwear alongside a message titled “Dream On, Football.” He wrote that he still dreams of playing football “just because it was a game” and described his new relationship with On as part of a shared ambition to bring players, fans and the wider world closer to the game.
The announcement marks a significant expansion for On beyond its established strength in running and its growing presence in tennis.
On said Mbappé will be at the centre of its football strategy, working with the company on the development of future football products. The brand has also appointed former France international and 1998 World Cup winner Thierry Henry as Director of Football, while FC Barcelona women's player Sydney Schertenleib is involved in the development of products for women's football.
From running technology to the football pitch
On is positioning innovation at the heart of its football launch. Its football platform centres on LightSpray™, a technology the company says it is adapting from running to create lightweight football boots with a close-to-the-foot feel.
The company's football website describes the project as a co-creation process involving Mbappé, Henry and Schertenleib, with their playing experience being used to challenge and refine future products. On says it is developing boots for both the men's and women's game.
The move is also a major shift in the competitive landscape of global sportswear. Mbappé had been associated with Nike since childhood, making his departure one of the American giant's most prominent athlete losses in football. Reuters reported that On plans to launch its first football boots commercially in 2027.
Building a new football category
For On, the Mbappé partnership is more than an endorsement deal. The company is using one of football's biggest global names to establish credibility in a category dominated by Nike, Adidas and Puma.
The strategy follows On's approach in other sports, where high-profile athletes have played a role in product development as well as brand communication. Tennis champion Roger Federer has been a prominent partner in the company's expansion beyond running.
The financial terms of the Mbappé agreement have not been disclosed. Reports have indicated that the relationship is structured as a broader strategic partnership, although specific contractual details have not been publicly confirmed.
Mbappé's “Dream On” signals the new direction
Mbappé's social-media message places the partnership firmly around the idea of rediscovering football as play rather than simply positioning it as another athlete sponsorship.
“Dream On” is also the central message of On's new football platform. The company says its objective is to bring athletes closer to the ball and people closer to the game through product innovation and community.
With Mbappé as its global football figurehead, Henry leading football strategy and LightSpray technology moving toward the pitch, On is now attempting to build an entirely new football business around performance footwear, apparel and athlete-led product development.
For the sportswear industry, the announcement creates a new competitive front: On is no longer simply challenging established performance brands in running and tennis—it is entering football with Mbappé at the centre of the launch.