According to a French insider, Kylian Mbappé is on the verge of ending his long-standing partnership with Nike and signing with a completely new player in the sports equipment market.
Real Madrid's football star, Kylian Mbappé, is reportedly on the verge of a surprising change in sports equipment suppliers. After nearly two decades of loyalty to the Nike brand, the 27-year-old Frenchman is ready for a fresh start with, it is claimed, an unexpected partner.
French Ligue 1 insider Thibaud Vezirian reports that Mbappé will not be moving to one of the established giants like Adidas, Puma, or Under Armour, which had previously shown interest in collaboration. Instead, he is reportedly set to join a brand that has yet to make a major breakthrough in the world of football. "The football star will play a role in helping the brand celebrate its triumphant entry into the world of football with high-quality boots," Vezirian told Goal.com, adding that Mbappé will certainly benefit from his own brand and a stake in the company.
Although the name of the new sponsor has not been revealed, the contract is reportedly close to being finalized. This story is also supported by recent reports from reputable French media outlets L'Equipe, RMC, and Le Parisien, which have also announced the end of Mbappé's partnership with Nike.
Mbappé has been working with Nike since he was eight years old, meaning their partnership has lasted around 20 years. His latest sponsorship deal was reportedly worth around €14 million per year. That contract expired at the end of June but was extended until the end of July due to his participation in the World Cup with the French national team.
Ironically, Mbappé had only recently received his signature boot model from Nike, whose design symbolizes his connection to the streets of his native Paris. Now it seems those boots will become a collector's item from a finished chapter.
The change in equipment coincides with Mbappé's desire for a fresh start at Real Madrid after a disappointing season without a major trophy. The club, a long-time partner of Adidas, has significantly strengthened the squad by bringing in players like Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, and Ibrahima Konate.
Mbappé's contract with Real Madrid runs until 2029. He will have his first chance to show off his new boots on August 22, when Real Madrid plays its first league match of the season against Espanyol from Barcelona.
