On enters football, partnering with Kylian Mbappé
Swiss sportswear brand On has announced its entry into football, teaming up with world champion Kylian Mbappé as its central partner and appointing Thierry Henry as Director of Football.
Swiss sportswear brand On officially announced on September 18, 2026, its entry into the world of football, with French World Cup winner and record World Cup goal-scorer Kylian Mbappé named as its central partner, according to press.on-running.com.
A new chapter for the brand
On, founded in 2010 and grown from a running-industry challenger into one of the world's leading sportswear brands, says it will apply the same approach to football that previously produced technologies like CloudTec® and LightSpray™ — combining product innovation with athlete insight and Swiss engineering.
Mbappé will work directly with On's product teams on developing and testing future football footwear and apparel, and will also become a global brand ambassador, with the partnership extending beyond football into movement, performance, and design.
Thierry Henry and Sydney Schertenleib join the project
Former France international and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has been named Director of Football at On, having worked with the brand on its football entry since late 2025. His role spans strategic development, product direction, and athlete relationships.
Swiss international and FC Barcelona player Sydney Schertenleib, who joined On in December 2025 as a Training and Lifestyle ambassador, will now also contribute to football product development, with her input aimed at shaping the future of the women's game.
LightSpray™ technology at the core
According to the source, On's football product development will center on LightSpray™, its proprietary robotic manufacturing technology first introduced in 2024, which builds a shoe upper from a continuous sprayed filament to create exceptionally lightweight, precise footwear. The stated ambition is to develop products that fit like a second skin, with elite players involved in testing and refining them from the outset.
On's football launch was captured by renowned photographer Juergen Teller, who photographed Mbappé, Henry, and Schertenleib at On Labs in Zurich, the brand's innovation and product development hub. The source does not specify financial terms or the length of the partnership.
