Celtic sign Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur from Paderborn for £4.5 million
The 22-year-old German Under‑21 international signs on a four-year deal after helping Paderborn back to the Bundesliga.
Celtic have officially announced the signing of German midfielder Mika Baur from SC Paderborn for a reported £4.5 million plus £2.3 million add-ons, marking the club’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window.
The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at Parkhead, with an option for a further 12 months, subject to international clearance.
Baur’s arrival follows the earlier signings of Camilo Duran, Kasper Høgh, Haissem Hassan and the re-signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as manager Martin O’Neill continues to reshape his squad ahead of next week’s Champions League qualifier against LASK.
The German Under-21 international began his career at Freiburg before moving to Paderborn in 2024, and spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Dynamo Dresden. He was a key figure in Paderborn’s successful promotion back to the Bundesliga last term, making him a coveted target for several clubs.
Speaking after completing the move, Baur expressed his excitement about joining the Scottish champions.
“It’s absolutely the right move,” he said. “It’s a great club and I’ve heard incredible things about the fans. Celtic are the champions. I want to win something, and I think I’m in the right place for it.”
He added that advice from former Celtic midfielder Nicolas Kuhn played a part in his decision. “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.”
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill welcomed the signing, praising Baur’s technical ability and versatility.
“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.
“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.”
Negotiations had been protracted, with Paderborn initially rejecting lower offers before both parties reached an agreement this week. Baur is expected to link up with his new teammates immediately as Celtic prepare for their upcoming European fixtures.