Celtic are moving for Mika Baur after a breakthrough season that gave them a clearer read on what he can bring in midfield. Reports have placed the fee at around £7m, while the BBC says it is undisclosed, and the same BBC report says he has signed a four-year contract with the option of another year. What is easier to pin down is why Celtic want him: production from a deeper role, tactical flexibility and clear praise for his defensive growth.
The season that changed the move
Baur's rise at SC Paderborn 07 is the centre of this deal. During Paderborn's promotion campaign, he delivered four goals and five assists from a deep-lying role, a return strong enough on its own to explain Celtic's interest.
There is one detail to handle carefully. The BBC's count for last season is 36 appearances, four goals and six assists, which conflicts with the Daily Record's five-assist figure. The broader point does not change much: Baur was productive, and he did it from a role that was not built around chasing numbers.
His route to that role matters too. He spent January 2025 on loan at Dynamo Dresden, then returned to Paderborn and settled into a slightly more defensive midfield brief. That makes the output stand out more, because Celtic are not buying a pure final-third specialist.
Baur himself, quoted by dailyrecord.co.uk, said: "I don't even know how to explain it. It's the same for every player, once you break through, things just fall into place."
The qualities Celtic are really paying for
The stronger case for the move is not just goals and assists. Ralf Kettemann, quoted by dailyrecord.co.uk, gave the more revealing explanation of Baur's jump.
"He turned his passion off the ball up a notch, working defensively incredibly well. I wasn't sure if he could do it, but he can. He can cover ground, he can sprint, he can tackle, he can read the game. I strongly believe that Mika will continue to develop."
That sounds like the profile Celtic are targeting: a midfielder with end product who is also trusted to do the heavier work. The description of Baur as a two-footed player who can operate anywhere across the middle only adds to that. For a club balancing domestic demands with European preparation, versatility has real value.
Paderborn's season gives the move more weight as well. They finished third in the second tier and secured Bundesliga football by beating Wolfsburg in the play-off final. Celtic are buying a player from a side that had just earned promotion, not one coming off a lost year.
Kettemann's reaction also suggested what Paderborn felt they were losing. Speaking in quotes carried by dailyrecord.co.uk, he said: "It hurts both professionally and personally."
The fee debate and Celtic's timing
The financial framing is still a little messy. Daily Record reports have described the move as around £7m or a £7m move, while the BBC says the fee is undisclosed. So the sensible reading is that Celtic have moved in a deal widely reported in that range, without a confirmed public figure.
What looks less disputed is Celtic's confidence in the player. The BBC says Baur has signed a four-year contract with the option of another year, and the move comes with Celtic having won five straight league games. They are bringing him into a side with momentum rather than asking him to rescue a broken one.
Baur's profile does not guarantee anything in Scotland, and the leap always needs proving on the pitch. But the logic behind this one is strong: Celtic have targeted a midfielder whose breakthrough season combined end product with defensive improvement, and who arrives from a promotion-winning campaign at Paderborn.
FAQ
Why are Celtic signing Mika Baur from Paderborn?
Celtic's move is built around Baur's breakthrough season at Paderborn. He produced four goals and five assists from a deep-lying role during their promotion campaign, and Ralf Kettemann highlighted his defensive improvement, ground coverage and reading of the game.
Did Mika Baur play in an attacking or defensive midfield role last season?
He returned to Paderborn after a January 2025 loan at Dynamo Dresden and played in a slightly more defensive midfield role. Even from there, he still contributed goals and assists, which is a big part of why the move appeals to Celtic.
How much is Celtic paying for Mika Baur?
Reports have placed the fee around £7m, but it should not be treated as confirmed. The Daily Record described the move in that range, while the BBC reported the fee as undisclosed.
How many assists did Mika Baur get for Paderborn last season?
There is a source split on that number. The Daily Record credited Baur with five assists, while the BBC reported six assists in 36 appearances. The safer way to present it is as a breakout season with at least four goals and either five or six assists, depending on the source.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
