Kylian Mbappé leaves Nike after 20 years to join Swiss brand On

Kylian Mbappé has brought down the curtain on 20 years with Nike and joined Swiss brand On, a move that shakes up the football footwear market. The France captain will not only wear the company's new boots from next season but also becomes a shareholder in a brand preparing a major entry into football.

• Mbappé ends a 20-year relationship with Nike and becomes a shareholder in On.
• The Swiss company will launch its first mass-market football boots, the Lightspray Prototype, next year.
• Thierry Henry joins On as football director, while Roger Federer is already a shareholder.
• Nike loses one of its most visible football ambassadors just before the European season starts.

Mbappé completes switch from Nike to On as a shareholder

The 27-year-old striker ended his Nike deal after the World Cup and has decided to back a challenger brand that wants to grow aggressively in football. On, based in Zurich, has built its name in running and tennis but now plans a full-scale assault on the world's most popular sport.

The agreement makes Mbappé a shareholder in the company, a detail that underscores the strategic nature of the move. This is far more than a standard endorsement contract: the forward will have a voice in product development, following a model the brand has already employed with stars such as Roger Federer.

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

Those were the words the French attacker used to explain a switch that leaves Nike without one of its most recognisable on-pitch ambassadors.

What On's move into football means for the boot market

On unveiled its first boot model, the Lightspray Prototype, this week. The design will be available to the general public from next year, after which the company plans to expand its catalogue into training apparel, confirming a comprehensive commitment to football.

To lead that expansion, the Swiss firm has hired Thierry Henry as football director. The Arsenal and France legend brings elite-level experience and deep knowledge of both the dressing room and the international market.

The blow for Nike and the battle with Adidas for football dominance

Mbappé's departure is a significant setback for Nike, which had already seen Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal switch to Adidas two years ago. The Frenchman has fronted many of the American company's advertising campaigns and was one of its most valuable assets in a sport that generates enormous revenue.

Nike and Adidas clearly dominate the football business. According to data compiled by specialist retailer Fútbol Emotion, more than 40% of players at the last World Cup wore boots from one of those two brands, while Puma accounted for roughly 10%.

Why On believes it can challenge the industry giants

On's bet is not the first of its kind in the sector, but it arrives with some different ingredients. Previous challenger brands such as Under Armour, New Balance and Skechers, whose boots are worn by England captain Harry Kane, have struggled to carve out meaningful retail share in football.

Having Federer as a shareholder, Henry as football director and Mbappé's global pull gives the Swiss company a platform that is hard to ignore. If the Lightspray Prototype delivers on the pitch, On could become the first serious challenger to the two giants in years.

What is known about the deal and the new boots' debut

The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, but Mbappé's entry into the company's shareholding indicates that the partnership goes beyond traditional sponsorship. The player will be able to contribute to product and strategy decisions, a model similar to the one On has used with Federer.

The Lightspray Prototype is expected to make its official match debut next season, coinciding with the model's commercial release for the general public.

Frequently asked questions about Mbappé's deal with On