Celtic reach agreement to sign €8m Engels replacement in record transfer

12 Aug 2026 16:02 BST | 4 min read

Martin O'Neill, Celtic, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Suraj Radia | Editor

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Celtic have reached an agreement to sign Mika Baur from Bundesliga side Paderborn, with the midfielder now on his way to Glasgow to complete a deal.

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Baur has been a target for Celtic all summer and the Scottish champions have been locked in talks with Paderborn for weeks, with a breakthrough finally being reached.

Current ETV

Mika Baur

M, DM (C)

Paderborn

Mika Baur

M, DM (C)

Paderborn

ETV Range

€1.4M - €2.2M

Sky Sport Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has confirmed that a deal has been agreed with Paderborn worth €8 million, which is a record sale for the German outfit.

Baur has agreed a five-year contract until 2031 and is set to complete a medical in the coming hours, having missed training with Paderborn on Wednesday, with coach Ralf Kettemann admitting he was prepared for the sale of his star man.

"The transfer isn't finalized yet, but I have to assume it's going ahead," Kettemann said. "I have to expect it; it's not a new topic of discussion. It hurts both professionally and personally.”

The deal is believed to have cost Celtic an initial £4.5m (€5.3m) up front with £2.3m (€2.7m) in add-ons after a bid of around €4m was rejected by Paderborn last month.

Mika Baur: Celtic close in on midfielder to replace outgoing star man – with another signing to follow

Baur had proven to be a key player for Paderborn since joining them in 2024 and he was crucial in their successful promotion campaign last season, scoring four goals and providing five assists from midfield.

© IMAGO - Mika Baur is close to signing for Celtic.

Paderborn had not been keen on selling their playmaker but Baur was entering the final year of his contract and was seemingly keen to move to a club playing Champions League football.

Baur, who made his debut for the German under-21 side earlier this year, will become Celtic’s third signing of the summer after forwards Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh.

The youngster is likely to be a replacement for Arne Engels, who is in talks to join West Ham as Celtic await an offer in excess of €30m for their talismanic midfielder.

Celtic are also close to signing Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan from Real Oviedo as Martin O’Neill continues to strengthen his squad in the hopes of retaining their Scottish Premiership title this season.