Jürgen Klopp Backs Mika Baur's Bold Move to Celtic
Jürgen Klopp has hailed Mika Baur’s decision to swap the Bundesliga for Celtic, backing the midfielder’s bold career move by handing him a first senior Germany call-up.
The 22-year-old is one of the standout surprises in Klopp’s enormous opening squad, a sprawling 44-man selection split into two groups. One pool will face the Netherlands and Greece. The other, where Baur’s name appears, is set to meet Serbia and Greece, with the Celtic man due to join up with the national set-up from September 28.
Klopp has wasted no time in getting to know one of his newest recruits. Speaking to STV Sport, the former Liverpool manager revealed he has already spoken directly with Baur about his Glasgow switch and the demands that come with it.
“I consider him really exciting,” Klopp said. “He’s absolutely up for it. We also spoke on the phone about the weather in Glasgow – something I know well from Liverpool. With this move, he’s taken on a very challenging step.”
That step was a £6million summer move from newly-promoted Bundesliga side Paderborn, where Baur had been a near ever-present during their successful 2025/26 campaign. He arrived in Scotland as a promising addition. He has quickly become much more than that.
Under Martin O’Neill, Baur has already forced his way to the heart of Celtic’s midfield. His form has been strong enough to keep experienced summer signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out of the starting XI in recent weeks, a statement in itself for a player still adjusting to a new league and a new country.
There have been early marquee moments. Baur took man-of-the-match honours after scoring the winner against St Johnstone earlier this month, a performance that underlined both his composure and his growing influence. He then played the full 90 minutes in Celtic’s 3-0 Glasgow Derby defeat at Ibrox, a harsh introduction to the intensity of Scotland’s biggest fixture but another sign of the trust O’Neill already places in him.
Germany have long had Baur on their radar. He previously featured for the under-21s alongside Said El Mala, Finn Jeltsch and Brajan Gruda. All three of those names now reappear beside his in Klopp’s first senior squad, a clear indication that the new national coach is ready to promote a fresh generation together.
For Celtic, the call-up is another reminder of the club’s reach beyond Scotland. Should Baur make his senior debut, he would follow in the footsteps of Andreas Thom and Andreas Hinkel, two former Hoops who also bridged Glasgow and the German national team.
Baur has already embraced the rain, the noise and the pressure of Celtic Park. Now comes the next test: carrying that form onto the international stage under one of the most demanding and charismatic coaches in the modern game.
