Celtic Sign Midfielder Mika Baur from Paderborn

Celtic have stepped up their summer rebuild again, sealing a fourth new arrival with the signing of highly rated midfielder Mika Baur on a four-year deal, with an option for a fifth.

The 22-year-old joins from Paderborn in a move worth around £6.8m, after driving the German side to promotion from the 2. Bundesliga to the Bundesliga last season. Sky Sports News understand Celtic will pay an initial £4.5m, with a further £2.3m due in performance-related add-ons.

Those bonuses are heavily tied to Europe. As with fellow summer signings Camilo Duran, Kasper Høgh and Haissem Hassan, a significant chunk of the extras will only be triggered if Celtic reach the league phase of the Champions League.

From Paderborn hero to Parkhead hopeful

Baur arrives in Glasgow on the back of a breakout campaign. He scored four goals and supplied five assists in 33 league appearances, numbers that helped earn him Paderborn’s player of the year award as they clinched promotion.

His rise has been steady rather than flashy. Developed in the Freiburg academy, he moved to Paderborn in 2024, then quickly became central to their attacking rhythm, linking play, pressing aggressively and chipping in with decisive contributions in the final third.

That profile clearly appealed to Celtic. Versatile, technically sharp, and comfortable operating in different midfield roles, Baur fits the club’s model of recruiting young talent with room to grow and resale value attached.

Champions League in his sights

The timing of the deal is no coincidence. Celtic face LASK Linz in their Champions League play-off next week, and Baur can now be registered for that squad as the Scottish champions chase a place in the newly formatted league phase.

For the player, the decision felt straightforward.

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

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

“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.”

The message is clear: he expects to hit the ground running.

O'Neill gets his link man

Manager Martin O’Neill made no attempt to hide his satisfaction at landing the German midfielder, highlighting both his quality and his mentality.

“I am delighted that we have been able to bring Mika to Celtic,” O’Neill 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.

“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, but I am really pleased with the perseverance and commitment we have shown to secure his signing.”

That last line tells its own story. Celtic had to push to get this one over the line. Paderborn did not want to lose their player of the year, especially on the eve of a Bundesliga return.

Celtic, though, see Baur as a midfielder for the present and the Champions League qualifiers – and, if all goes to plan, a mainstay for the years that follow.