Chinese sportswear company has dismissed rumors about a potential endorsement deal with French soccer star Kylian Mbappé, who reportedly ended his long-standing partnership with Nike.
“Our company has not signed any agreements with the renowned football player,” a spokesperson from the Beijing-based brand stated yesterday. “We have no involvement and no plans to pursue such a collaboration.”
Earlier reports from a Chinese fintech outlet suggested that the brand would partner with Mbappé to develop a personal brand centered around the 28-year-old forward, who currently plays for top Spanish club Real Madrid. The rumors also claimed that Mbappé might invest in acquiring a stake in the company.
It was also reported that Mbappé ended his 20-year partnership with American sports giant Nike as of July 31. The outlet indicated he is expected to sign with a new, unexpected company, which would offer him significant earnings.
Nike has sponsored Mbappé since he was just eight years old, accompanying his rise to international stardom. The player recently earned the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by netting 10 goals, and he was instrumental in France’s victory at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Established in 1990 by retired Chinese Olympic gymnast Li Ning, the brand is the second-largest sports apparel company in China by revenue after Anta Sports. In the past year, the company’s revenue increased by 3.2% to approximately 29.6 billion yuan (about $4.4 billion), though its net profit declined by 2.6% to roughly 2.9 billion yuan (about $430 million).
As of 11:25 a.m. in Hong Kong, shares of the company traded at HKD14.62 (around USD1.86), reflecting a slight rise of 0.2%.