On built its name in running. Now the Swiss sportswear brand is testing its performance formula in football, with Kylian Mbappé directly involved in developing the products. The Real Madrid superstar joins On as a global ambassador and product collaborator, working with the brand’s teams on future football footwear and apparel.
SPORTSWEAR
Mbappé’s global ambassador role also covers performance and contemporary design. For the player, the chance to help create something new played a key part in the partnership. He said he wants to bring his own experience into the process while keeping the joy of football present in what On creates.
On introduced LightSpray™ in 2024 as a robotic manufacturing technology that creates a performance upper from a continuous sprayed filament. The system gives the company a different approach to footwear construction, and On now plans to adapt it to the demands of elite football.
The development process will involve professional players from the beginning. They will test products, challenge the designs and provide feedback to On’s product teams as the company refines its football footwear and apparel.
The goal is straightforward: develop products that feel exceptionally lightweight, responsive and close to the athlete.
That approach follows the same athlete-led thinking that has shaped On’s work in running. This time, the company has to account for the specific demands of football, where footwear has to support running while also accommodating ball control and play on the pitch.
From the beginning, what drew me to On was the opportunity to build something entirely new together that will help shape tomorrow’s game. I want to bring my experience and perspective into what we create, push what’s possible through innovation, and always stay true to the joy of football. We have a shared dream, and this is only the beginning. – Kylian Mbappé
Mbappé is one part of a wider group On has assembled around the project. Thierry Henry has worked with the company behind the scenes since late 2025 and now serves as Director of Football. The former Arsenal player and World Cup winner has contributed to On’s football strategy, athlete relationships and product approach from the early stages.
Henry said the team has spent time listening to players and understanding what they need. His role gives On input from someone with decades of experience in elite football as the company establishes its presence in the sport.
Sydney Schertenleib also joins the football project after first working with On in Training and Lifestyle. The Swiss international and FC Barcelona midfielder became an ambassador for the brand in December 2025 and now contributes to testing for its football range.
Her feedback will help inform products for the women’s game. Schertenleib said her earlier work with On had already introduced her to the company’s approach to performance and design. She also gave a direct reaction to the footwear currently in development, saying she had never felt the ball in the same way while using it.
For Founder and co-CEO David Allemann, football gives On a chance to bring its own approach into an established sportswear category. He said the company wants to introduce new ideas through innovation and contemporary design, connecting elite performance with the culture around the game.
On introduced the project through a campaign photographed by Juergen Teller inside On Labs in Zurich. Teller photographed Mbappé, Henry and Schertenleib among the machinery, products and experimentation used by the development team, including the LightSpray robot.
The setting says plenty about how On wants to approach football. The players appear inside the lab, the technology remains visible, and the launch stays closely tied to the products the company is still developing.
