Jurgen Klopp has wasted no time putting his stamp on Germany – and Mika Baur is one of the clearest signs of it.
The 22-year-old Celtic midfielder, a relative unknown outside Bundesliga circles a few months ago, has been propelled into the senior national team after Klopp named a sprawling 44-man pool for his first set of fixtures in charge.
Baur is in the second of two groups assembled by the former Liverpool manager, with one squad set to face the Netherlands and Greece, and the other – Baur’s – preparing for meetings with Serbia and Greece. He will report for duty with the national set-up from September 28.
A brave move that caught Klopp’s eye
Klopp made it clear this was not a token gesture. The Germany boss has already been on the phone to Baur, and it is the midfielder’s decision to swap the comfort of home for Glasgow that has clearly struck a chord.
“I consider him really exciting,” Klopp told STV Sport. “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 “challenging step” was a £6 million summer transfer from newly-promoted Bundesliga side Paderborn to Celtic, after Baur had been almost ever-present in their successful 2025/26 campaign. He arrived in Scotland with a growing reputation, but no guarantees. New league, new country, new expectations. No safety net.
He has not looked remotely fazed.
Making himself at home in Glasgow
Under Martin O’Neill, Baur has moved quickly from intriguing signing to automatic pick. His energy and willingness to take the ball in tight areas have given Celtic a different rhythm in midfield, and his form has already forced a big name to the sidelines.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, one of the headline arrivals of the summer and a vastly experienced operator at the highest level, has recently found himself out of the starting XI as Baur has nailed down his place.
There has been end product too. Earlier this month, Baur was named man of the match after scoring the winner against St Johnstone, a performance that underlined both his composure and his appetite to decide games rather than simply blend into them.
He then played the full 90 minutes in Celtic’s 3-0 Glasgow Derby defeat at Ibrox. A bruising afternoon for O’Neill’s side, but another hard lesson banked for a player Klopp clearly believes will grow from such experiences rather than shrink.
From Paderborn to the Mannschaft
Baur’s elevation to the senior squad is the latest step in a steady international rise. He has already represented Germany at under-21 level, where he lined up alongside Said El Mala, Finn Jeltsch and Brajan Gruda. All three have now joined him in receiving a call from Klopp.
The message is obvious: reputation alone will not dictate this new Germany era. Form, courage to test yourself abroad, and the willingness to embrace uncomfortable challenges all count heavily.
Baur ticks every box. He left a Bundesliga club on the up, walked into the pressure cooker of Celtic, and has immediately shouldered responsibility in a team expected to dominate domestically and compete in Europe.
Now he stands on the brink of something bigger. Should he make his senior debut, Baur will follow Andreas Thom and Andreas Hinkel in the small but distinguished group of German internationals to have worn the Celtic shirt.
From Paderborn to Parkhead to the Germany squad under Klopp – the steps have been rapid, but none of them accidental. The next one, onto the pitch in a senior international, will tell just how far this bold move to Glasgow can really take him.
