On Enters Football: On LightSpray Prototype Football Boots Revealed
, by Chris
- On's Football Entry and Marquee Athlete: Swiss brand On has officially entered football, revealing prototype boots made with LightSpray technology and signing Kylian Mbappé as its lead athlete and partner, who will also have an equity stake and collaborate on development.
- Revolutionary LightSpray Technology: The new football division is centered on On's LightSpray technology, which uses a robotic arm to spray a continuous thermoplastic filament, creating a seamless, ultra-light, one-piece upper that significantly reduces production carbon emissions.
- Key Personnel and Product Launch Timeline: Thierry Henry has been appointed Director of Football, joining Sydney Schertenleib as ambassadors, and On's first retail football boots are scheduled for market release in 2027 following extensive athlete testing.
Swiss performance brand On has officially announced its historic entry into football, showcasing prototype boots constructed using its proprietary LightSpray manufacturing technology. In what marks the biggest boot contract shift in our memory, Kylian Mbappé has joined On as the brand's marquee athlete and partner after his deal with Nike expired in July 2026. Mbappé takes an equity stake in the company and will collaborate directly with On's innovation lab to develop and refine football footwear.
Mbappé is not the only high-profile name spearheading the project. Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry has been named Director of Football, having worked secretly on the project with the Swiss brand since 2025. Swiss international and Barcelona player Sydney Schertenleib completes the initial core ambassador lineup, helping guide On's product development with a strong focus on the women's game.
LightSpray Technology Enters Football
The centerpiece of On's new football division is its revolutionary LightSpray technology, which originally debuted in the brand's elite running footwear. Instead of traditional cutting, stitching, and gluing, LightSpray uses a robotic arm to spray a continuous thermoplastic filament directly onto a foot-shaped last in just three minutes. This process creates a seamless, ultra-light, one-piece upper engineered to eliminate distractions and provide a direct, barefoot-like sensation on the ball while reducing upper production carbon emissions by up to 75% compared to standard manufacturing methods.
First looks from the On Labs showcase all-white, seamless prototype boots fitted with aggressive stud layouts. The sleek laceless design hugs the contours of the foot with an ultra-thin upper layer directly bonded to a lightweight soleplate. Several of the prototypes revealed carry visible pitch marks and wear from initial athlete testing, confirming that the boots have already undergone extensive field trials.
Mbappé is slated to wear blacked-out and whiteout prototype versions of the On boots on the pitch in competitive action in the near future. Footballers will have to wait a little longer to purchase them, however, as On's first retail football boots are scheduled to hit the market in 2027 as a premium performance boot, followed by a broader range of football apparel and footwear.
On LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper Shoes
On Football Boots Concept by Bootsplug
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