{"id":896552,"date":"2026-09-18T13:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T13:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/896552\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T13:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T13:00:12","slug":"on-enters-football-alongside-kylian-mbappe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/896552\/","title":{"rendered":"On Enters Football alongside Kylian Mbapp\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"

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ZURICH, Switzerland, September 18, 2026 \u2013 Today, Swiss sportswear brand On announces its entry into football alongside football champion Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, marking the beginning of the brand\u2019s journey into the world\u2019s biggest sport. On is bringing a fresh perspective to football \u2013 that the game is more beautiful when you can focus on the simple joy of play, enhanced through product innovation and meaningful connections with communities around the world. Thierry Henry, who has been working behind the scenes with the brand on every aspect of its entry and product approach since late 2025, has been announced as Director of Football. <\/p>\n

Since launching in 2010, On has grown from a new challenger in running into one of the world\u2019s leading sportswear brands by rethinking performance \u2013 from CloudTec\u00ae to LightSpray\u2122 \u2013 through athlete insight, Swiss engineering, and distinctive design. Now, On is applying that same formula to football: working closely with a highly selective line-up of elite players to rethink product for the demands of the game while bringing a new energy to the culture that surrounds it. <\/p>\n

A World Champion and the reigning World Cup record goal scorer, Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 will be at the heart of On\u2019s football journey, uniting one of football\u2019s defining players with one of sportswear\u2019s most innovative brands. Bringing his reading of the game, forged at the highest level and backed by extraordinary statistics, he will work directly with On\u2019s product teams, integrating his elite perspective into the development and testing of future football footwear and apparel. He will also become a global ambassador for On, extending the partnership beyond football into movement, performance, and contemporary design.<\/p>\n

\u201cFootball doesn\u2019t need another sportswear brand to do more of the same,\u201d says David Allemann, Founder and co-CEO of On. \u201cFootball needs new ideas and a challenge to what is possible. When we enter a sport, we want to be the brand of the future \u2013 through true innovation and contemporary design. Our ambition is to bring On\u2019s approach to the pitch, the pavement, and the runway \u2013 connecting elite performance with the culture that surrounds the game. With Kylian we have the perfect partner to dream what football can become.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the beginning, what drew me to On was the opportunity to build something entirely new together that will help shape tomorrow\u2019s game,\u201d says Kylian Mbapp\u00e9. \u201cI want to bring my experience and perspective into what we create, push what\u2019s possible through innovation, and always stay true to the joy of football. We have a shared dream, and this is only the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

A New Era of Performance Innovation with LightSpray\u2122<\/p>\n

At the heart of On\u2019s approach to sportswear is a culture of innovation and Swiss engineering. It was foundational to the brand\u2019s founding, with CloudTec\u00ae, On\u2019s distinctive structurally engineered mid-sole, redefining performance running technology. That same culture of innovation resulted in LightSpray\u2122, On\u2019s proprietary robotic manufacturing technology first introduced in 2024. By creating a performance upper from a continuous sprayed filament, LightSpray\u2122 enables a fundamentally different approach to footwear construction \u2013 designed to outperform traditionally manufactured products.<\/p>\n

On is now applying the technology to the specific demands of elite football. The development process will be athlete-led from the outset. Elite players will work directly with On\u2019s product teams to test, challenge and refine future football products, combining first-hand experience from the highest level of the game with On\u2019s Swiss engineering and approach to innovation. The ambition is to rethink what football product can be: exceptionally lightweight, precise, and close to the athlete like a second skin.<\/p>\n

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Bringing Together Forces to Shape the Future of Football<\/p>\n

Joining Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, two further distinctive forces of the elite game are integral to On\u2019s entry into football: Thierry Henry and Sydney Schertenleib. Both bring different points of view to On\u2019s football journey.<\/p>\n

Thierry Henry joined On as its new Director of Football. One of the most celebrated players of his generation as a French World Cup winner and Arsenal FC legend, Henry has been working on the brand\u2019s entry into football since late 2025. Drawing on decades at the highest level of the game, he will play a central role in the strategic development of On Football, from product and athlete relationships to how On approaches the culture and future of the sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuilding something new in football requires a bold and original approach,\u201d says Thierry Henry. \u201cOver the past year, I\u2019ve 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\u2019m proud to be part of shaping what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sydney Schertenleib represents the next generation of football. The Swiss international and FC Barcelona player first joined On in December 2025 as an ambassador for Training and Lifestyle. Her relationship with the brand now expands into football, where she will work directly with On\u2019s teams on product development and testing. Her perspective will help shape products designed for the future of the women\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve already experienced how differently On thinks about performance and design, so being part of its journey into football feels really exciting,\u201d says Sydney Schertenleib. \u201cAs a player, having the opportunity to work directly with On and bring my perspective into the development process is something really special. I can honestly say, I\u2019ve never felt the ball like I have in the product the team is working on.\u201d<\/p>\n

On\u2019s entry into football is captured through the distinctive lens of world-renowned photographer Juergen Teller, who brings Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, Henry and Schertenleib into On Labs in Zurich \u2013 the heart of the brand\u2019s innovation and product development. Set among the machinery, products and experimentation behind On\u2019s innovation, including the LightSpray\u2122 robot, Teller\u2019s unmistakable visual language brings together the worlds of football, innovation and culture in an unexpected way.<\/p>\n

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Link to imagery here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

on.com\/football<\/a><\/p>\n

Link to On factsheet here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Link to the LightSpray\u2122 page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About On<\/p>\n

On<\/a> was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement \u2013 a mission that still guides the brand today. Sixteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, tennis, all-day activities and football. On\u2019s award-winning CloudTec\u00ae and LightSpray\u2122 innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base \u2013 inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.<\/p>\n

On is present in more than 90 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Forward-Looking Statements<\/p>\n

This press release contains statements that may constitute \u201cforward-looking\u201d statements pursuant to the \u201csafe harbor\u201d provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as \u201canticipate,\u201d \u201cbelieve,\u201d \u201ccontinue,\u201d \u201ccould,\u201d \u201cexpect,\u201d \u201cestimate,\u201d \u201cforecast,\u201d \u201cintend,\u201d \u201cmay,\u201d \u201cplan,\u201d \u201cpotential,\u201d \u201cpredict,\u201d \u201cproject,\u201d \u201ctarget,\u201d \u201cwill,\u201d \u201cwould,\u201d and \u201cshould,\u201d among others.<\/p>\n

Among other things, On\u2019s quotations from management in this press release and other written materials, as well as On\u2019s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. On may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Further, On uses the investors.on-running.com website as well as LinkedIn as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on our management\u2019s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management.<\/p>\n

Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified under the section titled \u201cRisk Factors\u201d in our Annual Report. These risks and uncertainties include factors relating to: the strength of our brand and our ability to maintain our reputation and premium brand image; our ability and the ability of our independent manufacturers and other suppliers to follow responsible business practices; our ability to implement our growth strategy; the concentration of our business in a single, discretionary product category, namely footwear, apparel and accessories; our ability to continue to innovate and meet consumer expectations; changes in consumer tastes and preferences including in products and sustainability, and our ability to connect with our consumer base; our ability to open new stores at locations that will attract customers to our premium products; our ability to compete and conduct our business in the future; health epidemics, pandemics and similar outbreaks; general economic, political, demographic and business conditions worldwide, including geopolitical uncertainty and instability, such as the on-going Russia-Ukraine or Israel-Hamas conflicts and on-going shipping disruptions in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways; the success of operating initiatives, including advertising and promotional efforts and new product and concept development by us and our competitors; our ability to successfully develop, implement, and scale our LightSpray\u2122 technology and products developed using this technology; our ability to strengthen and grow our DTC channel; our ability to address climate related risks; our ability to execute and manage our sustainability strategy and achieve our sustainability-related goals and targets, including sustainable product offerings and investor and customer scrutiny; our third-party suppliers, manufacturers and other partners, including their financial stability and our ability to find suitable partners to implement our growth strategy; supply chain disruptions, inflation and increased costs in supplies, goods and transportation, customs and duty expenses, and foreign exchange rates; the availability of qualified personnel and the ability to retain such personnel, including our Executive Officers; our ability to accurately forecast demand for our products and manage product manufacturing decisions; our ability to distribute products through our wholesale channel; changes in commodity, material, labor, distribution and other operating costs; our international operations; our ability to protect our intellectual property and defend against allegations of violations of third-party intellectual property by us; cybersecurity incidents and other disruptions to our information technology (“IT”) systems; increased hacking activity against the critical infrastructure of any nation or organization that retaliates against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine; our reliance on complex IT systems; our ability to adopt and monitor generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies in our operations; changes and contemplation of changes to trade policies, tariffs and import\/export regulations in the United States and other jurisdictions; financial accounting and tax matters; our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; the potential impact of, and our compliance with, new and existing laws and regulations; other factors that may affect our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations; and other risks and uncertainties set out in filings made from time to time with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov, including, without limitation, our most recent reports on Form 20-F and Form 6-K. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.<\/p>\n

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to release publicly any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ZURICH, Switzerland, September 18, 2026 \u2013 Today, Swiss sportswear brand On announces its entry into football alongside football…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":896553,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[563],"tags":[64,63,596,85],"class_list":["post-896552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-football","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=896552"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896552\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/896553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=896552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=896552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=896552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}