Celtic Sign German Midfielder Mika Baur on Four-Year Deal

Celtic have moved again in the market, landing German midfielder Mika Baur on a four-year deal that underlines how serious the champions are about refreshing their squad for Europe.

The 22-year-old arrives from Paderborn in a transfer worth around £6.8m, with an option for a further year built into his contract. Sky Sports News understand Celtic will pay an initial £4.5m, with another £2.3m tied up in performance-related add-ons.

Those bonuses tell their own story. As with fellow summer arrivals Camilo Duran, Kasper Høgh and Haissem Hassan, a significant chunk of the extras only kick in if Celtic reach the league phase of the Champions League. The club are effectively betting on Baur helping to drag them there.

From promotion push to Parkhead pressure

Baur heads to Glasgow on the back of a standout season in Germany. After coming through the youth system at Freiburg, he joined Paderborn in 2024 and quickly became a central figure in their promotion charge.

Four goals, five assists, 33 league appearances. Enough to be named Paderborn’s player of the year as they climbed out of the second tier and into the Bundesliga.

That form made him difficult to prise away. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill admitted as much.

“Mika's club in Germany were very keen to keep him, which I fully understand, as he played such an important role in their Bundesliga promotion,” O’Neill said. “But I am really pleased with the perseverance and commitment we have shown to secure his signing.”

The deal finally got done. Celtic now have their fourth signing of the summer, and another midfielder who fits their technical, high-tempo profile.

“If you have the chance, just do it”

Baur has not walked into this blind. He tapped into a familiar voice before committing to the move.

“I'm in the same agency as Nicolas Kuhn so I called him to ask a couple of questions and he was so positive,” Baur explained. “He said, if you have the chance, just do it.”

The pitch from Celtic clearly landed as well.

“It's absolutely the right move,” Baur said. “It's a great club and I've heard incredible things about the fans.

“I've had a good pre-season with good matches and tough training sessions, everything. So I'm in good shape and I'm ready to go.”

That last line will be music to O’Neill’s ears, with competitive stakes already looming.

Champions League in his sights

Celtic face LASK Linz in their Champions League play-off next week, a tie that will go a long way to defining the early shape of their season both financially and competitively. Baur can be registered for that squad and, fitness permitting, could be thrown straight into the European spotlight.

O’Neill is in no doubt about what the new signing can bring.

“I am delighted that we have been able to bring Mika to Celtic,” the manager said. “He is a player with some excellent attributes, great technical ability, he will be important in linking our play and he has real versatility too.

“Having spoken to Mika, I can see the appetite he has for the challenges here at Celtic and I am sure he will be another great addition to the squad.”

A promotion hero in Germany, now stepping into the glare of Glasgow and the demands of the Champions League qualifiers. Baur has chosen the jump. The question now is whether he becomes the midfielder who knits together a new-look Celtic when the season’s biggest nights arrive.