Mika Baur Joins Celtic: Ambitions for Champions League Glory

Mika Baur has barely walked through the door at Celtic, but his eyes are already fixed on the floodlights of the Champions League.

The 22-year-old midfielder has completed his move from German side Paderborn to the Scottish champions and arrived in time to be involved in next week’s Champions League play-off against Austrian side LASK. For Baur, this is not just a transfer. It’s a stage.

“I think it's the best next step,” he said, laying out his ambition with the kind of clarity that will sit well in Glasgow. “It's a great club, it's a big club. You play in front of a big crowd, you're dominating the league.”

That dominance is part of the attraction. So are the nights that define seasons.

“You have the international games, the Champions League matches at night on the big stage. I want to show the people and also myself that I'm ready for that. So, yeah, I think it's the right move.”

The deal took time to get over the line, with negotiations dragging longer than expected, but any frustration has been replaced by relief. Celtic have their man. Baur has his platform.

Now the countdown begins.

He could make his debut as early as Saturday in the League Cup tie against Dundee United, a domestic introduction before the European test he craves. It would be a quick jump from new signing to frontline option, but Baur sounds ready to embrace it.

Asked what supporters can expect, he doesn’t hesitate.

“I'm really good on the ball,” he said. “I think I developed myself and my game off the ball last season. So, I'm running a lot, I'm fighting, but I want to be a playmaker, I want the ball at my feet.”

That blend of graft and guile is exactly what Celtic demand from their midfielders. Industry is non-negotiable. So is bravery on the ball.

“That's what they [coaches] expect from me and that's what you guys can also expect,” he added, turning his message directly to the fans. “That I try my best and leave my heart on the field every time.”

The Champions League lights will come soon enough. First, Baur has to earn his place in a Celtic side built on relentless standards. The stage is there. Now it’s down to him to prove he belongs under those lights.