Mika Baur's Ambitious Move to Celtic: Aiming for Champions League Glory

Mika Baur has barely unpacked his bags in Glasgow, but his sights are already fixed on the Champions League lights.

The 22-year-old midfielder has completed his move from German side Paderborn to Celtic, arriving in time to be involved in next week’s Champions League play-off against Austrian club LASK. The deal dragged on longer than he would have liked, but once it was sealed, there was no doubt in his mind he had chosen the right path.

“I think it's the best next step,” Baur said, speaking about the switch to Celtic. “It's a great club, it's a big club. You play in front of a big crowd, you're dominating the league.”

That stage matters to him. The domestic pressure, the expectation, the noise. But it’s the European nights that really pull him in.

“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.”

He might not have to wait long to pull on the shirt for the first time. Baur could make his debut on Saturday in the League Cup tie against Dundee United, a softer landing before the intensity of a Champions League play-off, but still a first taste of Celtic duty.

If he does feature, supporters will be watching closely to see what kind of midfielder has just arrived. Baur is clear about the profile he brings.

“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.”

He knows exactly what his new coaches are looking for, and he offers the same promise to the stands as he does to the dugout.

“That's what they expect from me and that's what you guys can also expect – that I try my best and leave my heart on the field every time.”

The Champions League stage is coming. Now it’s up to Baur to prove he belongs in that spotlight.