Thierry Henry named On's Director of Football after Mbappe signing

Thierry Henry has been named On's new Director of Football, taking on a central role in the Swiss sportswear brand's move into the game.

The appointment completes a launch that began on Friday, when On announced its entry into football alongside Kylian Mbappe, the France captain having ended a Nike partnership stretching back to the start of his career. The company plans to launch its first football boots next year.

Henry has been working with On since late 2025

The Arsenal and France legend has been working behind the scenes with On since late 2025, helping shape its football strategy before the brand officially launched alongside Mbappe.

Henry's role will cover product, athlete relationships and the wider direction of On Football, with the World Cup winner helping influence how the brand approaches both performance and the culture around the sport.

"Building something new in football requires a bold and original approach," said Henry. "Over the past year, I've seen first-hand the curiosity and attention to detail the team at On brings to that process. We want to listen to players, understand what they need and create something that can genuinely add to the game. I'm proud to be part of shaping what comes next."

He will also work alongside Mbappe and Barcelona midfielder Sydney Schertenleib, who are both feeding directly into the development and testing of On's first football products.

Mbappe ends Nike deal dating back to 2006

Mbappe's switch was confirmed when On, which is making a major move into the football market with the signing, announced the deal on Friday. The company did not disclose the value of his contract.

"Today, Swiss sportswear brand On announces its entry into football alongside football champion Kylian Mbappe, marking the beginning of the brand's journey into the world's biggest sport," read a company statement.

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

Founded in 2010 and previously focused on running and tennis footwear, On counts tennis great Roger Federer among its shareholders.

What it means for Nike

Mbappe's departure is a blow to Nike, the world's largest sportswear company, which had been involved with the Real Madrid forward since 2006 and made him one of the leading faces of its football business.

The 2018 World Cup winner and all-time leading scorer in the tournament's history with 22 goals had gradually emerged as Nike's foremost football ambassador, succeeding Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 41 is approaching the end of his playing career.

His exit follows that of Lamine Yamal, a recent World Cup winner with Spain, who swapped Nike for Adidas in 2024. Federer also left Nike towards the end of his playing career to join the Zurich-based company.

Nike retains under contract several of football's biggest stars, including Norway striker Erling Haaland and Brazil forward Vinicius Junior.

SportsLigue