Paderborn's Mika Baur Joins Celtic in Record Deal

SC Paderborn has officially announced the departure of attacking midfielder Mika Baur, who has completed a permanent transfer to Scottish champions Celtic. The 22-year-old has signed a contract with the Glasgow club through 2030, following several weeks of negotiations.

Celtic is reportedly paying Paderborn an initial €5.25 million, with an additional €2.75 million available through performance-based bonuses. This total package of €8 million makes Baur Celtic's most expensive sale in the club's history, surpassing the previous record.

Baur's rise has been notable since his late call-up to the German U21 squad last November. At that time, he had recently established himself as a regular player for Paderborn after a loan spell with Dynamo Dresden.

This transfer represents a significant return on Paderborn's initial investment in the player, who was developed in Freiburg's academy.

Baur's Rapid Ascent from Prospect to Record Sale

Baur joined Paderborn from Freiburg in 2024 and quickly became an integral part of Ralf Kettemann's promotion-winning team. In the 2025/26 season, the 22-year-old featured in 33 league matches, scoring four goals and providing six assists as Paderborn secured promotion to the Bundesliga.

His impressive performances significantly boosted his market value. By the current summer, Baur's estimated market value had risen to around €5 million, attracting interest from several German clubs as well as Celtic.

It was reported earlier that Celtic had reached an agreement on personal terms with Baur, and the player favored a move to Glasgow despite reported interest from other German clubs. Negotiations had initially stalled due to a slight valuation gap, with Paderborn holding out for approximately €5 million and Celtic's offer standing around £4 million (€4.7 million).

Paderborn was prepared to keep Baur for their Bundesliga campaign, even with his contract entering its final year. However, Celtic ultimately presented an improved offer substantial enough to persuade the newly promoted Bundesliga side to approve the transfer.

Baur revealed that former Celtic winger Nicolas Kühn played a role in reinforcing his desire to move to Glasgow. Sharing the same agency, Baur contacted Kühn to inquire about his experience at Celtic before finalizing the move.

Paderborn Plans to Reinvest Record Fee

Baur's departure leaves Paderborn without one of their key creative players just before their return to the German top flight. Head coach Kettemann acknowledged that losing Baur would be a blow both "sportingly and personally" and emphasized the need for the club to react in the transfer market.

Sporting director Sebastian Lange has confirmed that the proceeds from the sale will be used to strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes. For Baur, this move offers an immediate opportunity to compete for trophies and potentially feature in the Champions League.

Club Statements on Mika Baur's Transfer

Sebastian Lange, Sporting Director of Paderborn, stated, "As one of our key performers from the promotion season, we would actually have very much liked to keep Mika. When he expressed his wish to move to Celtic Glasgow, we did not want to stand in his way, particularly given that he had less than one year remaining on his contract. We want to use the very good economic solution we have found to strengthen our squad further before the end of the transfer window."

Mika Baur commented on joining Celtic, saying, "This is absolutely the right step. It is a great club and I have heard incredible things about the fans. Celtic are champions. I want to win something, and I believe this is exactly the right place for me. I had a good preseason with good matches and tough training sessions. So I am in good shape and ready to get started."

Celtic head coach Martin O’Neill added, "He is a player with excellent qualities and great technical ability. He will play an important role in our build-up and is also extremely versatile. After my conversations with Mika, I can sense how excited he is about the challenges here at Celtic. I am sure he will be another excellent addition to the squad."