Swiss sportswear brand On has officially entered the football arena by securing Kylian Mbappé as the face of its new football division, a significant blow to long-time rival Nike, which has sponsored the French star since his youth. According to sources familiar with the matter, On plans to release its first football boot in 2027, followed by jerseys, and eventually expand into lifestyle apparel and training shoes.

The Zurich-based company has also brought on French legend Thierry Henry to serve as head of its football operations. On is betting big on its innovative LightSpray technology—a robotic process that sprays continuous filaments to form the shoe upper—in hopes of carving out a meaningful share of a football equipment market dominated by Nike, Adidas, and Puma. The brand aims to replicate the rapid growth it has achieved in running and tennis categories.

Mbappé's defection is a notable loss for Nike. The Real Madrid forward had been with the American giant for roughly two decades, serving as the key ambassador for the Mercurial boot line. This follows another high-profile departure, as Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal also switched from Nike to Adidas earlier this year.

On is developing lightweight football footwear, claiming the design enhances a player's feel for the ball. The LightSpray technology, which builds the shoe directly via robotic spraying, can reportedly have production lines set up in just a few months, allowing On to scale manufacturing capacity quickly. The company intends to structure its partnership with Mbappé as a long-term deal, modeled in part on its relationship with Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer, who became an investor in 2019 and has since been deeply involved in product development, helping the brand expand into tennis.

Nike has not yet commented on the move.