Celtic have completed the signing of German midfielder Mika Baur from Paderborn for an undisclosed fee, with the 22-year-old agreeing to a four-year contract that includes an option for a further year.

Baur arrives having played a key role in Paderborn's return to the Bundesliga, the club's first appearance in the top flight in six years. Paderborn finished third in the second division last season before defeating Wolfsburg in the promotion play-offs — a campaign in which Baur contributed four goals and six assists across 36 appearances.

A footballer with handball in his blood

Born in Salem, Baur began his senior career at Freiburg, where he featured for the reserve side before moving to Paderborn two years ago. Prior to his breakthrough season, he spent a loan spell at Dynamo Dresden, where he helped the club earn promotion to Bundesliga 2 — an experience he has credited as a turning point in his development.

Baur has spoken about the impact of a mindset coach and the arrival of head coach Ralf Kettemann as further factors behind his rise. Having begun his career as a winger and attacking midfielder, he evolved into a deep-lying playmaker — a role that drew comparisons to Rangers' Nicolas Raskin — and helped steer Paderborn to their strongest period of success since the start of the millennium.

His father, Markus Baur, was a decorated handball player who made 228 appearances for Germany, claiming Olympic silver at the 2004 Athens Games and a world championship gold in 2007. Mika chose a different path, and has since represented Germany at every youth level up to under-21s.

Eyes on the senior squad

The move to Celtic is an ambitious one. Baur could have remained at Paderborn to experience Bundesliga football for the first time, or sought a move elsewhere in Germany's top flight. Instead, he heads to Scotland with ambitions of making the step up to the senior Germany national team — and of proving himself at the highest level of European club football.