Football: Kylian Mbappé leaves Nike and signs with the Swiss sportswear company On

France captain Kylian Mbappé has signed with equipment manufacturer On after having been linked with American company Nike since the beginning of his career, the Swiss brand announced on Friday.

"Today, the Swiss sportswear brand On announces its entry into football alongside football champion Kylian Mbappé, marking the beginning of the brand's journey in the world's greatest sport," On said in a statement, also specifying that 1998 World Cup winner Thierry Henry was becoming its director of football.

"From the beginning, what attracted me to On was the opportunity to build something completely new together, something that will help shape the game of tomorrow. I want to bring my experience and my point of view to what we create, push the boundaries through innovation and always remain true to the joy of football. We have a common dream, and this is just the beginning," said Kylian Mbappé, quoted in the press release.

On, which is thus entering the football segment with this resounding signing, has not indicated the amount of the contract signed with the superstar of the Blues.

- A major blow for Nike -

Founded in 2010 and previously specializing in the manufacture of running or tennis shoes, its shareholders include tennis legend Roger Federer, who also left Nike at the end of his career on the courts to join the Zurich-based equipment manufacturer.

Mbappé's departure is a huge blow for Nike, the world leader in sporting goods, which had been committed to the French striker since his early years and had made him its main star in the football market. Mbappé, a 2018 World Cup winner and record holder for goals scored in World Cup finals (22), had thus gradually supplanted Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, another face of the swoosh brand, but who at 41 is approaching the end of his career.

Nike, however, still has contracts with several major stars of world football, such as Norwegian striker Erling Haaland or Brazilian Vinicius, Mbappé's teammate at Real Madrid.

The American company, based in Oregon (northwest), is also the equipment supplier for the French team since it extended its contract with the French Football Federation (FFF) in 2024 until 2034 for an estimated amount of 100 million euros per year.